SHILLONG: Home Minister Roshan Warjri has said that normalcy has returned to Chokpot where unrest prevailed following the death of Withson Marak in police custody and added that developments are being closely monitored.
In a written reply to a call attention motion moved by Clifford Marak (GNC) on Monday in Assembly, the Home Minister said that the curfew which was imposed on May 29 was withdrawn on June 4 completely and no subsequent incident was reported from the area.
Narrating the incident, Warjri said that on May 27 at around 11:45 AM the victim Withson M. Sangma (35) from Warima Duragre under Chokpot police station was arrested in connection with the various sections of IPC, Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act following the recovery of two powerful IEDs packed in two pressure cookers which were buried by the GNLA cadres of Chokpot command on the road near Dagal-Asim, Chokpot .
During the brief interrogation, Sangma confessed to his involvement in the case and said that he had given two pressure cookers to Khongsil, Area Commander, GNLA of Chokpot for preparation of IEDs which were recovered by police on May 25.
After his arrest on May 27, Withson Marak was sent for medical checkup at 4.30 pm to Chokpot CHC and the medical officer said that he was suffering from hypertension, but he was fit enough to be kept in the police lock-up. After the medical examination, he was brought back to the police station for further interrogation and was kept in the lock-up. The accused was provided with food and medicine in the late evening.
At around 11:45 pm ,constable Nathan M. Sangma, who was on sentry duty reported to the
Officer in-Charge, Chokpot police station that the person in the lockup was found lying unconscious. On seeing his condition, the Chokpot OC, informed the Medical Officer to come to the police station. The officer arrived at around 12: 20 am of May 28 and after examination, he declared Withson M. Sangma to be dead. Wajri said that on May28 early morning, the matter was informed to T.G. Momin ,ADM, South Garo Hills and he along with circle inspector Baghmara and police force proceeded to Chokpot police station to hold an inquest over the body. The ADM reached Chokpot at around 10:30 am and waited for the relatives of the deceased to come to the spot.
On their arrival, the relatives of the deceased refused to sign the inquest report. At the same time, a huge crowd numbering around 150-200 gathered outside the police station and prevented the ADM and Police from taking the body to Baghmara for post-mortem. The same crowd became agitated and started pelting stones damaging the police station building and vehicles of the ADM and the Police.
Though reinforcement of CRPF was sought, they were blocked by a bus while approaching Chokpot police station .
On hearing about the tense situation, the senior police officials from Baghmara and available force from Baghmara rushed to Chokpot police station to take stock of the situation. On the way to Chokpot, the team encountered the road blocks set up by the public and after half an hour, the bus blocking the road was removed from the road. The teams could reach Chokpot police station at around 8:45 pm only. They immediately took the body into the police vehicle and escorted it to Baghmara through a different route. The team along with the body reached Baghmara later.
On May 29 morning, the CI and OC of Baghmara reported that when the body was forwarded for postmortem to Baghmara CHC, the doctor refused to conduct the examination citing that it was a sensitive case and they were not equipped to conduct such examinations.
The matter was brought to the notice of the ADM and other high ranking officials of the Government.
In the mean time, a crowd had gathered at the Chokpot police station and demanded as to why the body was taken from there without their consent. Some members of the agitated crowd pelted stones at buildings and police vehicles. This was interrupted by the appearance of some church and NGOs leaders of Chokpot ‘who held a peace rally to convince the crowd to allow the post mortem of the body, but in vain.
The crowd numbering around 400 went back to the Chokpot police station in a confrontation mood. The crowd besides pelting stones and shot stones with catapults at round 1:30 PM
The Home Minister said that the crowd also brought along small children and women, making it difficult for the police personnel to properly control and manage the crowd with lathi charge.
“Taking advantage of the situation the crowd also burnt down two police department gypsies, one Mini truck allotted to Chokpot police station and three motor bikes belonging to private individuals parked near the police station”, the Home Minister said .
Warjri said that though police personnel and CRPF from Baghmara tried to reach Chokpot, they could not reach in time as the road was blocked by the people from Sibbari to Chokpot.
GNLA fires from church compound
The Home Minister also said that the police party came under fire from suspected GNLA militants from Bibagre Baptist Church compound. However, the police restrained from firing back as there were many children on the Church compound. The militants on seeing the large police party fled the scene. ” On arrival, the re-enforcement party along with Chokpot police station staff dispersed the crowd and restored order in and around the area”, Warjri added .