Former MLA Ngurang Pinch death case handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation

Our Correspondent

Itanagar, July 19: The Arunachal Pradesh government has handed over the death case of former MLA Ngurang Pinch’s to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In a letter to the CBI Director, State Home Commissioner AC Verma yesterday informed him of the decision of the state government, official sources revealed here today.

“The case is serious and sensitive. However, despite handing over the case to Crime Branch’s Special Investigating Team (SIT), nothing conclusive has emerged from the investigation even after lapse of more than seven months since the case was transferred to it. Further, there are representations from public to transfer the case to CBI,” the letter read. “In view of the seriousness of the case and based on recommendation by the director general of police to handover the case to CBI, the competent authority has decided to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation,” It further read. The body of Pinch was found floating in a river in Papum Pare district onNovember 18 last year.

Pinch, who was the chairman of Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB), was on a rafting expedition along with eight others the previous day and stayed on the river bank near the confluence of the Popum and the Poma rivers. Pinch was found missing in the morning of November 18 and on search his body was found floating in the river between Basar Nallo and Rana Ghat on Assam side.

The family members of Pinch suspected it as a case of well-planned murder and demanded the state government for a proper investigation by a competent authority. His family members have been demanding that the CBI take over the case from the SIT, alleging that the state crime branch failed to act against a few people. The SIT had arrested three persons in regards to the case but has failed to properly investigate the case.