Unidentified body found in Kochi suspected to be that of Suraj Lama; scientific tests to confirm identity

KOCHI: It is suspected that Suraj Lama, who was deported in connection with the Kuwait spurious liquor tragedy, has died. A body believed to be that of 58-year-old Suraj Lama was found near HMT Junction in Kalamassery. Lama, who had lost his memory after the liquor tragedy, was deported to Kochi by Kuwaiti authorities. However, officials had not informed his family about the deportation.

Due to his memory loss, Lama roamed around the Nedumbassery airport premises and later in the Thrikkakara area after arriving. On October 8, the Thrikkakara Police located him and admitted him to Kalamassery Medical College Hospital.

It was the police who informed the family that Lama was in Kerala. But by the time his family reached the hospital, he had already gone missing. There had been criticism that neither hospital staff nor authorities gave proper care to a person with severe memory loss.

On October 10, CCTV footage from near Kalamassery Medical College showed Lama again. His family then came to the location, searched for him, and lodged a complaint with the Nedumbassery Police. When no action was taken, Lama’s son, Santen Lama, approached the High Court with a habeas corpus petition. The High Court treated the matter seriously and instructed the state Social Justice Department to form a special investigation team.

While the team led by the Aluva ASP was carrying out the investigation, a body suspected to be Lama’s was found this morning in a forested, deserted area near Kalamassery HMT Junction. Fire and rescue personnel were also deployed as part of the special investigation team. The body was in a decomposed state, and only scientific examination will confirm whether it is indeed that of Suraj Lama.