SHILLONG, MAY 24: The National People’s Party (NPP) has demanded a judicial probe headed by either a sitting or a retried High Court judge to head the “judicial inquiry” to probe into the recent death of Balsan S Marak while in judicial custody.
NPP spokesman and legislator James K Sangma said in a statement issued on Saturday, “We that the government institute a judicial probe immediately to be headed either by a sitting or retired High Court judge.”
The state government already has instituted two inquiries – magisterial inquiry which is almost completed and a high level inquiry headed by Garo Hills division commissioner PW Ingty into the death of Marak.
Ingty was given 30 days time to submit a detailed report into the circumstances of death through medical and other related evidences, both factual and circumstantial and the role of the police, if any, which could have led to the demise of BalsanS Marak while in custody.
Twenty years old Balsan Marak, who was arrested along with four other men in the case of illegally detaining twelve women and torturing them died on Tuesday at Tura civil hospital in West Garo Hills District.
Marak was arrested on May 13, and was sent to 14 days’ judicial custody before he was admitted in the hospital for fever, body ache, pain in the elbow and right ear infection.
The NPP also demanded that the post-mortem report of Marak be made public immediately.
Sangma said, “The parents of late Balsan Marak and the people of Garo hills have every right to know what caused his death.” He said it is unfortunate that the district administration of West Garo hills has refuse to give the post-mortem report to the parents of late Balsan Marak who was allegedly killed after police torture.
According to Sangma such a callous attitude of the deputy commissioner by not allowing the parents to know the truth that led to their son’s death is only adding to their emotional turmoil.
Sangma said the lack of transparency and intentional delay indicates that there is a move to cover-up this incident through manipulation. He said the NPP reiterates the demand that all the officers involved in this incident should be immediately removed from their posts in order to pave way for a free and fair investigation.- By Our Reporter
Oh no not another..this will go down the drain like the Jailbreak fake encounter inquiry where the Govt held on to the report for 9 months before making it public(seems they have tampered it also) and the Judge died 3 days after submitting the report to the CM… …CBI inquiry is a must in this case of Balsan Marak and this is also the desire of the Parents of Balsan Marak….Please not another wasteful Judicial Inquiry….