Students’ ‘murder’ case
SHILLONG: The Garo Students Union, Khasi Hills zone has demanded an independent inquiry into the recent deaths of two students, Salman T Sangma and Sengrak Ch Marak, who were allegedly assaulted by the sardar of a coal mine along with labourers and villagers from Kulang in South West Khasi Hills district.
The GSU has also alleged police atrocity in the case and expressed concern over the ‘nexus’ between cops and the sardar of the coal mine.
In a memorandum submitted to Home Minister Roshan Warjri on Friday, GSU, Khasi Hills zone general secretary Zikku Balga N Marak said that three students– Salman T Sangma, Wenrich D Sangma and Sengrak Ch Marak– who were provided employment by sardar of a coal mine, Sanjay Pal, had a heated argument with the latter when he refused to pay them their wages on April 2.
According to the GSU, following the argument, the sardar called out for the labourers of the mine along with the locals and all of them began assaulting the three.
The GSU also alleged that the sardar hit one of the students with a pickaxe killing him instantly while another student was seriously injured in the incident.
Later the mo threw the trio into a nearby gorge but Sengrak Marak regained sense the following day and managed to reach the Kulang outpost.
“Instead of registering a case, police detained and assaulted him badly as a result of which he succumbed to his injuries at the Ranikor CHC,” the GSU alleged, while stating that the third student, Wenrich D Sangma, is still missing and it is feared that he too is dead.
According to GSU, the nexus between police and the coal mine sardar should be thoroughly investigated. The incident, the GSU said, has also led to communal tension which may flare up any time.
GSU has also demanded compensation to the next of kin of the students and bring the culprits to book.
