Satnam Singh tortured to death in mental asylum: Kerala police

Thiruvananthapuram: A youth from Bihar who was arrested in connection with an incident at Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram in Kollam on 1 August had died of torture at the mental asylum where he was admitted after the incident, the crime branch said here today. The crime branch, which is investigating the case, said in its remand report to a local court that 25-year-old Satnam Singh Mann was tortured to death in the asylum. Anil Kumar, an attendant, and jail warder Vivekanandan had been arrested and remanded in connection with the murder. [caption id=“attachment_417713” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Satnam Singh Mann. Image courtesy Facebook.[/caption] In the report, the Crime Branch said there were 77 bruises on Singh’s body. He was beaten up by the duo on 4 August after he clashed with another inmate, it said. Satnam was allegedly beaten up with a cable wire and his head smashed against the wall, the report said. He was found unconscious in his cell by evening and was rushed to the medical college hospital. However, he could not be saved. Four inmates who witnessed the torture and allegedly joined the two in beating up Satnam, would later be taken into custody for questioning after getting permission from the court, police said. Mann was arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 1 August after he tried to barge onto the podium of spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi at her Amratapuri Ashram at Vallikkavu in Kollam district while she was blessing her devotees. He was stopped by devotees and security guards and handed over to police, who later admitted him to the mental hospital as he appeared mentally disturbed. PTI