A CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, March 13: UDP legislator from Shillong West, Paul Lyngdoh today sought clarification from the state government on whether it was premature on the part of the district police to declare that the in-charge of Patharkhmah outpost PJ Marbaniang committed suicide.
“Was it prudent on the part of the SP to say that the officer committed suicide,” Lyngdoh asked during the Question Hour today. He also asked would the Home Minister take responsibility upon herself that her officers do not shoot their mouth and give premature conclusion to cases and not come up with speculation.
Meanwhile, in her reply Home Minister, Roshan Warjri, said that a case of untural death has been registered into the death of the police officer.
Warjri also said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the government will examine all angles of the case. The Home Minister informed that the SIT took over the investigation of the case on February 6 under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police (CID) and the investigation of the case would be completed within 90 days with effect from February 4.
Warjri also did not reply on the reports that crucial evidence in the case has been tampered with.
“Since the SIT is yet to complete the investigation, it would be premature to comment on whether any crucial evidence has been tampered with,” Warjri told the House during the Question Hour.
It may be reminded Marbaniang died under mysterious circumstances on the night of January 24 and the incident happened soon after the police officer detained 32 trucks carrying coal illegally to Assam.
The less travelled road of Mairang-Patharkhmah-Jirang-Beltola was virtually converted into a tiol highway as hundreds of coal laden trucks passed through the road.