Parbhani Custodial Death: Autopsy Reveals Dalit Man Died Due to ‘Shock from Multiple Injuries’

Parbhani (Maharashtra), Dec 16 (NationPress) The initial autopsy findings of a Dalit man who passed away while in judicial custody in Parbhani revealed that he died from shock due to multiple injuries, coinciding with a calm bandh in the district to protest the incident on Monday.

The autopsy of Somnath Vyankat Suryavanshi, aged 35, was performed at the Government Medical College in Aurangabad this morning, and his body was subsequently returned to Parbhani for final rites that were conducted under strict police oversight this evening.

Numerous regions within Parbhani town and the surrounding district experienced a peaceful shutdown (bandh) on Monday following the mysterious death of an accused individual from last week’s violence, which erupted after a statue of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was vandalized.

Previously, Parbhani Police claimed that the detained Suryavanshi was taken to a hospital due to chest pains, but the provisional post-mortem report has sparked new inquiries, prompting senior members of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to plan a visit to the district soon.

Disturbed by the incident just before the Maharashtra Legislature Session commenced in Nagpur on Monday, Parbhani Police implemented stringent security protocols to maintain order during the shutdown.

The call for a state-wide bandh was issued by Republican Sena President Anandraj Y. Ambedkar, along with his brother and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) President Prakash Y. Ambedkar, and other Dalit organizations, including the Republican Party of India (A) led by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, Republican Party of India (K) chief Sachin Kharat, and Communist Party of India (M) leaders Ashok Dhawale and Uday Narkar.

However, Suryavanshi’s supporters, alongside Dalit groups and MVA allies like Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sushma Andhare, Nationalist Congress Party (SP)’s Dr. Jitendra Awhad, and Congress leaders, have accused law enforcement of brutality, alleging he was severely beaten by police after his detention, leading to his fatal injuries—according to the provisional post-mortem report.

“The custodial death of Somnath Suryavanshi—a Bhim Sainik from the Wadar community—in Parbhani is heartbreaking, revolting, and absolutely unacceptable. What is even more deplorable is that his death occurred in judicial custody despite his bail request being granted,” expressed a somber Prakash Y. Ambedkar, who visited the town on Monday.

On December 10, an unidentified individual vandalized a copy of the Constitution held by Dr. Ambedkar’s statue outside Parbhani Railway Station, igniting tensions that escalated into significant violence over the following days.

Afterward, the perpetrator was recognized as a 'disturbed' person named Sopan Pawar.

In the aftermath of the violence, Parbhani Police arrested or booked around 300 local residents, predominantly Dalits, including Suryavanshi, who was detained on December 12 and died in judicial custody within just 72 hours.

Condemning the incident, Union Minister Athawale urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the custodial death, dismiss the responsible police personnel, provide a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to Suryavanshi’s family, and drop charges against all those accused of last week’s violence, ensuring that those uninvolved in the riots are spared.