“Missing cop” surfaces to depose before Rajkhowa Commission

Shillong, Nov 20: Much to the amazement, shock and disbelieve of the Rajkhowa Commission, the missing sub-inspector Rajiv A Sangma surface to depose before the commission probing May 31, 2009 infamous Shillong jailbreak exposing the lie of the letter written by West Jaintia hill SP O Passi saying that the police officer had gone missing from service for the last one year and hence could depose before the commission on November 9.

The Rajkhowa Commission had received a letter dated November 7, 2012 written by Passi informing that the commission’s summons to the witness (Sangma) could not be served personally as Sangma remain untraced from service since the last one year.

Sangma was required to depose before the commission  as witness and give  his statement in connection with the death of  the  under trial prisoner (UTP) and jailbreak mastermind, Fullmoon Dhar, who was killed by police in an alleged fake  encounter on June 1, 2009.

Sangma had conducted the inquest on the body of the slain UTP, Fullmoon Dhar at the place of occurrence.

Sangma told reporters Tuesday after attending the commission’s hearing that he was shock by the claim made by the SP in a letter written to the commission that he had gone missing from service for the last one year.

Sangma said, “I was shocked to see news reports which appeared in newspapers on November 10 that I have gone missing from service. The reports shocked and surprised me. If I have gone missing, a notice should have been served against me through newspapers to direct me to join duty.”

Sangma informed that he did not get any notice that he had to depose before the commission. He said that he came to know from newspapers that he should appear before the commission of inquiry on November 20.

Contradicting Passi claims that he had gone missing Sangma said on June 19, 2012, Passi issued a movement order where he was deputed to appear the second sitting of the board examination in the office of Inspector General of Police (Trg/AP) in Shillong on June 20, 2012.

Sangma said he attended the board examination for promotion on June 20 before Additional DGP BL Buam in the presence of IGP, GHP Raju and other police officers. “My colleague Conrad Kamal also attended the board examination on that day,” Sangma said.

Sangma revealed after that he was unwell and took a medical leave and he is yet to join duty

Deposing before the commission Tuesday, Sangma was crossed examine wherein he dmitted that he had prepared the inquest on the dead body of Fullmoon Dhar at the place of occurrence. He informed that he reached the place of occurrenc other police officers – R Syngkon, EB Kyndiah and W Vaichai and the SP (Mukesh Singh) were also present.

Sangma said that Dhar was wearing green coloured nylon sleeveless T-shirt and light grey track pant.

He also told the commission that the inquest report and the dead body challan were handed over to Sub Divisional Medical and Health Officer, Jowai Civil Hospital. He said, “After the post mortem, one bullet was handed over to me and I gave it to SP, Mukesh Singh. I cannot say what type of bullet was it.”

The next hearings of the commission are schedule in December 4 and 5.

The commission of inquiry is probing on the five terms of reference which include the reason behind the Shillong jailbreak incident, the circumstances leading to the death of Fullmoon Dhar and criminal-politician nexus besides others. – By Our Reporter