SHILLONG: Numerous bodies have been recovered time and again from parts of Shillong over the past few months. While very few bodies are of persons who died unnatural deaths, others are that of people who succumbed due to illness and their bodies were subsequently recovered from city pavements.
The Police have not made much of a breakthrough regarding the cases of unnatural deaths.
When contacted, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang said that most deaths are caused not because of murder or assault but due to the prevailing cold weather conditions and consumption of alcohol.
“The victims are mostly vagabonds and so far this year, we haven’t received any cases of unnatural deaths,” Kharkrang said, adding that if bodies were recovered, they are usually taken for post mortem to ascertain the cause of death, and if it is murder then a case is registered accordingly.
In case of unclaimed bodies found in the road and pavements, the SP said that in such cases, the picture and details of the person is publicized for identification.
“But in many cases, these bodies remain unclaimed after which the municipality takes charge of disposing the bodies,” he added.
Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal while expressing concern over the increase of such cases said that this has turned out to be a big social issue.
“This is an issue which should be dealt not only by the District Administration or the police but the society as a whole,” he said.
Terming ‘alcohol’ as the main reason behind the cause of such deaths, Goyal said, “This is a serious issue in Meghalaya and it should be taken up in a big way with the collaboration of all the stakeholders if we want to make an impact.”
Goyal also informed that the police patrolling team and the local Dorbar played its part in directing drunkards found roaming late at night to the police station but the same could not be repeated every day.
“This is a social issue which should be tackled by the family concerned in the first place,” he added.
Bodies recovered recently
Case1: On October 1 at around 4:15 pm, body of Jonali Bora (35) was recovered from an abandoned Assam Type building under Lumdiengjri police station.
Case 2: On September 30 at around 1:30 pm, BSF personnel recovered one decomposed body of one Bhalang Laso (40) from a jungle near Laduua, Nongjri under Shella PS (EKH). The dead body bore a cut wound on the neck.
Case 3: On September 29 at around 12:10 pm, body of one Gopal (50) was recovered from Goenka market, Cantonment, Shillong.
Case 4: One unidentified male body was found lying at Lumshngain Revenue Plot 50, opposite AIR Rynjah.
Case 5: On September 29 at about 10 am, the dead body of one Radhan M Marak (23) was recovered from River Dadoka (SWGH).
Case 6: On August 21, the body of one Nojin Lyngkhoi (82) was recovered at Shaid-Shaid Jungle (SWKH). He was reportedly missing since August 13, 2013 and was suffering from mental disorder.
Case 7: On August 14, one Fallu Singh was found dead near May Fair School, Laitumkhrah.
Case 8: The body of one Lori Pukar Warjri (28) was found lying at the Sohra Bus stand under the influence of alcohol on August 13 and he was taken to hospital on the same day but he expired on the same day.
Case 9: On August 8 at around 7:50 am, one highly decomposed male body was recovered from Umiam (RB).