Tura, May 28: An alleged over ground worker of Garo National
Liberation Army (GNLA) today died in police lock up at Chokpot in
South Garo Hills district.
The deceased Witson M. Sangma, aged about 28 was arrested yesterday.
His death sparked off huge commotion in Chokpot, a remote location
about 60 km from here. People shouted anti-police slogan outside the
police station for over an hour.
On May 20, an undertrial prisoner, Balsan S. Marak (20) died at a
government hospital in Tura. He was arrested on May 13 in connection
with illegal confinement and torture of 12 women by ‘activists’, who
are in judicial custody.
Five women activists and four men, including Balsan and a minor were
arrested in connection with the case.
The minor, son of activist Jaynie Ningring Sangma was released on bail last Friday. His case was being dealt as per Juvenile Act. Reacting to the incident, chief opposition whip, James K. Sangma said, “We are tired of assurances given by the chief minister. Yet another incident of custodial death, points to the fact that there is something seriously wrong in the policing system. It is high time for the government to introspect and admit its mistakes”.
Sangma said that the opposition will raise the issue of Balsan’s
custodial death in the upcoming assembly session, which begins from
June 6. He also said that the opposition will seek reply from the
government on the sordid law and order situation in Garo hills.
South Garo Hills DC, Chinmoy Gotmore, who is on a medical leave, was
not in a position to comment. His subordinate, T G Momin, who holds
the charge of additional deputy commissioner, could not be reached for
any comment.
The death of Balsan Marak has become a major issue with several NGOs
seeking for a judicial probe, rejecting the magisterial probe ordered
by deputy commissioner of West Garo Hills. The NGOs has also served a
seven day ultimate to chief minister, Mukul Sangma, which expires on
Friday.
A series of agitation is in offing, if government fails to constitute
a judicial probe into Balsan Marak’s case. The government has
constituted a high level probe headed by commissioner of division
(Garo hills), Peter J. Ingty.
Reacting to this incident, IGP (law & order), GHP Raju said, “NHRC
guidelines are sacrosanct and shall be adhered in letter and spirit.
There are institutional measures in place in all cases of unfortunate
deaths in police or judicial custody”.
Requesting the public and NGOs to have faith in the institutional
mechanism devised by NHRC to deal with all cases of custodial death,
Raju said, “Any death of persons in custody is painful. Public and
NGOs should refrain from taking law in their own hands or cause misery
to common people by resorting to bandhs, etc”.
He even went on to say that any agitations by the NGOs or common
people would strengthen the hands of militant groups.(SP News)
