SIT arrested six in cop’s suicide case

SHILLONG, OCT 8: Special Investigating Team (SIT) headed by East Khasi hills SP(city) Vivek Syiem arrested six people for ‘abetment of suicide’ in the suicide of late Patharkhmah former sub-inspector (L) PJ Marbaniang. The arrested includes Block Development Officer (BDO), a contractor and top leaders of an NGO.

“In our findings, we have come to a conclusion based on evidences and facts, the five were involved for abetment to the suicide of (L) Marbaniang,” Syiem who is heading the SIT, told reporters on Thursday night.

He said, “The five were also produced before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, which remanded them to 14 days judicial custody.”

According to him, a 974-page chargesheet of the SIT has also been submitted and it would be placed before the court of the CJM tomorrow. The SIT has included the statements of as many as 123 people in the chargesheet.

The accused has been identified as Grandwill Harly Passah (39), a BDO of Jirang C&RD Block, Centerwell Daloi, the president of the FKJGP-Western Zone, Lawyer Syngkli (43), working president of the FKJGP-WZ, Shemphang Nongtri (32), a member of the FKJGP-WZ and Coming Kharbani, a contractor who is presently implementing a project of the irrigation department in Patharkhmah.

While four have been arrested from Patharkhmah, the BDO was picked up from Mawkynroh-Mawlai, Syiem informed and revealed that the FKJGP president is also a sordar at Sohkyrbam-Domphlang village and is running a toll gate of the Hima Nongkhlaw.

“The accused are people of influence in the area and it is a fact that (L) Marbaniang had detained the 32 illegal coal trucks in the intervening night of January 23 and 24, which affected them,” Syiem said.

He said, “In order to facilitate the movement of illegal trucks from West Khasi Hills District to Sukurbira, bordering Assam, they had exerted pressure, which forced (L) Marbaniang, who has just joined duty for 12 days, to take his own life.”

It may be mentioned that former SI Pearlystone Joshua Marbaniang, who was also the in-charge of Patharkhmah police outpost in Ri Bhoi district, was found lying inside his official quarter with a gunshot on his head on January 24 this year.

Initially, the state government has tasked the SIT constituted on February 3, to probe into the incident and submit its report within 90 days. Subsequently, the investigation was extended and it took the SIT to complete the report eight months.

When asked, Syiem said, “We would also submit our Action Taken Report before the Meghalaya High Court,” adding “At this juncture, I cannot disclose further about the evidence.”

Meanwhile, Syiem said six separate FIRs have also been filed by the SIT in connection with illegal collection from coal trucks, which was revealed during the course of the investigation.

“The six FIRs were filed against 30 government officials, which includes police personnel and officials from the different departments. The BDO of Jirang is one among them,” he said.

According to him, the route from Mairang – Rani Godown Road to West Khasi Hills is having huge number of gates run mostly by the Hima Nongkhlaw and different departments.

“This investigation has also revealed the amount of leakage due to corruption causing huge revenue loss to the state government,” Syiem said while informing that the all the FIRs have been filed with the Nongpoh police station for further investigation and necessary actions.- By Our Reporter