4 mysterious deaths in 2015: Justice awaited

Shillong Times: Shillong: Friday, 01 January 2016.

Four mysterious deaths reported in 2015 still elude answers with the relatives of the victims are yet to get justice.

Almost 12 months into the mysterious death of PJ Marbaniang, the officer in charge of Patharkhmah police outpost, who was found with bullet injuries on his head at his official quarter on January 25 this year, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had concluded it as a suicide case.

But the relatives, who do not want to believe in the suicide angle, are eagerly waiting for a favourable verdict from the High Court of Meghalaya after a petition was filed by the mother of the victim.

Though the magisterial inquiry probe report into the mysterious death of Shillong lady Victoria Kharkongor (39) at Dispur police station on July 5 cited the cause of death as suicide, the relatives and pressure groups, however, are skeptical about the angle.

However, the magisterial report revealed laxity on the part of the sub-inspectors of Dispur police station for the delay in taking Victoria to Guwahati  Medical College and Hospital for more than 45 minutes.

Hours before the counting of votes for the GHADC polls on October 15, a personnel of MLP 2nd Battalion identified as Joseph Lalthlanmua Thlau was found dead with bullet injuries inside the battalion barrack at DC Office Complex, Ampati,  South West Garo Hills.

While the police maintained it was a suicide case, there was no high level probe into the death of the police personnel.

However, replies to RTI queries revealed that the same weapon (Sten Gun Mark II with butt number 128) which was in the possession of the constable was issued to Naik Herwith N Marak  on February 28 this year.

The people are still clueless on the manner in which 25 year old Mawramsong Khar Hujon died in Mumbai after  he went missing on December 4 evening from Mumbai domestic airport without  meeting his sister Pynshisha Hujon who was with him at the airport.

A CCTV footage showed that Hujon was hurriedly walking in the direction of the highway, while his sister was waiting for him.

However, the body of Hujon was found two days later at a railway track near  Borivli railway station. But the relatives, who were not aware of the development, identified the body at Cooper Hospital only on December 11.