To crack case,unique test for ‘drowned’ boys’ bones

The bones have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Lucknow after two postmortem reports came up with different conclusions. While the first report stated that the cause of death was drowning,the second said the cause of death could not be ascertained.

After the second postmortem,the police approached Agra’s Chief Medical Officer,Dr Ram Ratan,for help. On his advice,they contacted Dr Ajay Agarwal — an expert in forensic medicine — who recommended the diatoms test.

In this test,a body is scanned for the presence of diatoms,which are microscopic plants found in all water bodies. If a person dies from drowning,then diatoms will be found in the entire body,including the bone marrow. But if the person was dead before he was thrown in water,then diatoms will at most enter the lungs,said Dr Agarwal.

According to the police,there was no evidence to show that the deceased were kidnapped and killed,but they are going ahead with the diatoms test to settle all doubts.

On October 16,the police recovered the bodies of Vishal Sharma,Vishal Yadav and Rahul Sharma from the Yamuna on the information given by 14-year-old Ajay who,along with them,had gone to play near the river. All were residents of Saket Nagar.

According to Ajay,while they were playing,their ball fell into the river. One after another,the three boys went into the Yamuna to retrieve the ball and got trapped in the current. A panicked Ajay ran to his house,but did not tell anyone about the incident.

In the evening,the parents of the missing boys began a search. They even spoke to Ajay,but he said he knew nothing about the boys. Later,when the police questioned him,Ajay told them about the incident. The next day,divers fished out the bodies. The postmortem report said the boys had died from drowning.

Since Ajay had not told them the truth,the families assumed that the boys had been killed. Following this,they attacked Ajay’s house and damaged it.

They alleged that Ajay’s family was in the business of selling body parts and had,therefore,killed the boys,said Jiwani Mandi Station Officer (SO) Ashok Kumar Singh.

On their complaint,a case of murder and kidnapping was registered against Ajay,his younger brother Chhote (8),father Vishwanth Singh and mother Preeti Singh. Facing a hostile situation,the Singhs left home and are yet to return.

Vishal Yadav’s father Chotte Lal said: “If Ajay’s story is true,why were the clothes of our boys not found on the riverbank? The boys had no clothes on except briefs. We have heard that Ajay’s father Vishwanth Singh is involved in the business of body parts.”

Preeti Singh,on the other hand,said: “The police and the district administration are working under the pressure of local political leaders. The families of the boys regularly hold demonstrations. The area is dominated by their castes. My sons are 14 and eight years old. Can they kidnap and kill three boys?”

Since the families of the three boys had rejected the postmortem report,one month after the incident,the police dug out the bodies for a second postmortem. This time,the report said that the cause of death could not be ascertained.

The families of the three boys take this as virtual confirmation of their allegation,though the SO said they had not found any evidence of kidnapping and murder. The police hope the diatoms test will settle the issue.