A pivotal ruling from the Kerala High Court has elevated the investigative stakes in the Suraj Lama tragedy, tasking a Deputy Inspector General with leading the SIT over the previously designated Commissioner-rank officer.
Responding to state counsel’s input, the division bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehaltha updated its interim directive from February 11 during Monday proceedings.
Deported from Kuwait, Lama arrived in Kochi in a pitiable state—physically debilitated and mentally compromised—yet was waved through by immigration and security without support. His disappearance prompted a desperate search, ending with the recovery of his body in Kalamassery, verified by forensic science.
The judiciary’s intervention spotlighted glaring protocol voids for vulnerable expatriates. Prior hearings saw the court withhold closure of the habeas corpus petition, stressing unresolved queries.
Now, the SIT must painstakingly reconstruct events post-arrival, with the court cautioning against dismissing foul play prematurely.
This authoritative pivot to DIG oversight underscores commitment to unearthing facts, urging systemic reforms in handling repatriated citizens. The probe’s outcomes could redefine safety nets at India’s gateways.