S Shahsikumar's family is claiming foul play in his death in the Kluang Prison in Johor, but the prison authorities and police insist that he hanged himself.

However, there is yet to be an inquest to shed light on what actually happened, Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia (PHM) said today.

"Hindraf seeks answers as to why the Sessions Court judge in Kluang district and the Coroner's Court refuse to hold an inquest under Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

"The Coroner’s Court has the authority to direct an inquiry when a death occurs in a police station or a prison, since the deceased is supposed to be in the most secure place," PHM chief P Waythamoorthy ( photo ) said in a statement today.

Waythamoorthy, who is assisting Shahsikumar's family in the matter, added that the attorney-general too has also not responded to the request for an inquest from lawyers for the family.

"It has been 11 days since the body of Shashikumar  has been  lying at the mortuary.

"The CPC provides for bodies to be exhumed if foul play is suspected in the cause of an inquest. In this case the body has not been cremated, thus the urgent need to hold the inquest to find out the truth," Waythamoorthy said.

Shahsikumar, 22, who was serving a 10-year jail sentence for stealing rice and sardine, was found dead in the Kluang Prison on May 22.

"The grandmother of Shashikumar needs answers and has instructed us to campaign on her behalf to get to the bottom of this episode.

"She accepts that her grandson’s life has been lost, but she wants to know the truth that led to his death and to be part of the wave of  change in the rampant death in custody in Malaysia," Waythamoorthy added.