Fresh autopsy on soldier in video

TT, March 4 (PTI): The mortal remains of a jawan found dead after featuring in a sting video on the "abuse" of the buddy system in the army were laid to rest after a fresh autopsy was conducted following his family's insistence.

Earlier, the body of the 33-year-old jawan, Roy Mathew, was brought to Thiruvananthapuram from Maharashtra by a flight this morning.

Mathew was found hanging from the ceiling of a room in an abandoned barracks in Devlali cantonment in Nashik on Thursday, but his relatives refused to accept that he had committed suicide.

The relatives, including his wife Fini, alleged that there were marks of beating on his feet and blood had clotted in some parts and refused to accept the body till a fresh post-mortem was conducted in Kerala.

Fini, who was at the airport to receive his mortal remains, said: "I need to get justice. I want to know how it happened. I want to see him."

Following the family's plea, a post-mortem was conducted again at the Thiruvananthapuram medical college hospital after which the body was taken to Karuvelil in Ezhukon in Kollam district for the final journey.

Mathew, who had joined the army 13 years ago and was working as an artillery gunner with the Rocket Regiment 214 in Nashik, disappeared on February 25 after he purportedly figured in an expose by a news portal on the "abuse" in the orderly system in the army.

The army has said it had not questioned Mathew after the video surfaced, which showed soldiers, working as sahayaks, walking dogs of senior army officials or taking their children to school.

Hundreds of people offered tributes to the soldier today.