'Victoria Dayoun Kharkongor did not commit suicide'

A REPORTER

SHILLONG, July 7: Latiplang Kharkongor, MDC from Nongthymmai constituency on Tuesday said that he strongly believed Victoria Dayoun Kharkongor who allegedly hanged herself inside a toilet at the Dispur Police Station in Guwahati did not commit suicide.

It may be mentioned that Victoria D Kharkongor who hails from Nongthymmai in Shillong, allegedly committed suicide inside the toilet of the Dispur Police Station on the 5 July at around 10.20 pm.

"Something of this ture is not acceptable because if like what they said was that she is mentally unsound shouldn't she be taken to a psychiatric hospital", Latiplang told media person here on Tuesday.

"If the victim is mentally unsound how can she be in the profession of teaching and also why would her family allow her go to Hyderabad all by herself," Latiplang said.

"As a representative from Nongthymmai constituency and also as a member of the Kharkongor Clan I strongly condemned this incident," he added.

Latiplang said that he will discuss this matter with various NGOs and also write to the tiol Human Rights Commission, while also adding that he will also meet with the Home Minister of the State and demand a Magisterial Inquiry.

Latiplang also said that according to the victim's family, Victoria who is a teacher by profession has taught in many places here in the North east which included Aruchal Pradesh, adding that the family told him that she had even once been awarded for her teaching skills and the last time she went to Hyderabad was also for teaching.

According to the Victim's mother, the last time Victoria called her was on July 2, 2015 informing her that she is on the train from Hyderabad to Kolkata, later on July 3, 2015 Victoria called her aunt and told her she has reached Kolkata and she is on her way to Guwahati after this the family couldn't reach her on her mobile.

Latiplang further questioned, "How can they take a lady into custody at late night even after she was declare mentally unsound which is very dubious?"

"I strongly suspect something happen to Victoria in the train itself" he said adding that there is a photo taken by a reporter from Guwahati which shows the place where Victoria allegedly hung herself is only five foot in height.

Agnes Kharshiing president of Civil Society Women's Organization (CSWO) has also expressed similar views. "There are various lapses on the part of the Dispur Police who have first of all taken a women to a police station at night," Kharshiing said adding that they have also alleged that she is mentally not sound and failed to take her for medical examition to determine her state of mind. Her relative were also not immediately informed as is the procedure when a person is detained.

According to her, the police instead of providing help to the lady detained her in the Police Station which led to her death in mysterious circumstances. There are also reports that the cause of death is because of rape and murder and this demands an enquiry to find out the cause of death of Victoria in Dispur Police Station.

"We also urge the commission to assist the family to be able to get the post mortem report, inquest report and the 48 hours report of the Police as soon as possible," Kharshiing said.

Kharshiing also requested that the Chairperson, Meghalaya State Commission for Women takes up this matter with the Assam Government to provide compensation to the family of Victoria Kharkongor.