CSWO seeks CBI probe
SHILLONG: Relatives of the officer in charge, Patharkhmah police outpost Pearlstone Joshua Marbaniang, who died of gunshot wounds on January 24 night, are not convinced by the claim of the police that he had committed suicide even as the Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) has demanded an independent or CBI inquiry into the matter.
The relatives of the deceased policeman are of the view that Marbaniang who was a man of ‘strong character and will power’ would not take away his life in this manner.
Speaking to newspersons at her residence in Umpling on Wednesday, Marbaniang’s widow, Chaleth Pyngrope said, “I know my husband better than anyone. I am sure that he will never do such a thing. She said she had spoken to her husband twice over phone on the night before this tragic incident.
“There was never an indication that he would do such a thing. He was talking to me normally,” Pyngrope said.
Marbaniang’s widow further informed that during the course of her conversation with him, he had told her that he had detained 32 coal-laden trucks from West Khasi Hills which were plying illegally to Assam via the Mairang-Azara road.
She said her husband had told her that he was facing ) pressure from all sides for detaining these trucks.
When she asked him if he was doing the right thing, he had replied in the affirmative.
Pyngrope said that in the course of their conversation her husband suddenly told her to put down the call since he had to attend to an emergency call. “This was the last time I talked to him,” she said.
“After this, I tried to call back but he did not respond. I was a bit worried but I never expected that such a tragedy would befall my husband,” Pyngrope said.
She informed that she came to know about this whole incident only after her uncle Charles Pyngrope and her cousin David Nongrum came to her house at around midnight of January 24.
“Only then was I informed that my husband had met with an accident,” Pyngrope said.
Interestingly, Marbaniang’s widow said that she never received any call from the police to inform her about this incident.
“If my uncle had not told me I would not have known about this incident. I am not sure why the police did not communicate to his family about this incident,” she said, adding that she suspected some foul play in the death of her husband.
Meanwhile, Marbaniang’s elder brother said they were shocked to see in the newspaper that the police had already declared that his brother had committed suicide while they were waiting at the Nongpoh Civil Hospital for the post- mortem report.
“We thought he had met with an accident. It is surprising that the media got the information even before the relatives got to know about it,” the elder brother said.
“Despite being the youngest in the family, he was the most mature one in the family. I am not convinced that my younger brother would take such a desperate step,” he said.
The elder brother said that the mystery over the death of his brother should come to an end.
“We would like the truth to come out,” he said.
Meanwhile, the CSWO has demanded that the State Government should immediately institute an independent or CBI inquiry into the frequent transfer and sudden death of Marbaniang.
“It is reported that prior to the alleged suicide, Marbaniang had detained many illegal coal laden trucks in West Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi Districts, and he was subjected to many unwarranted frequent transfers. We suspect that he was murdered and such pressure and killings will put at risk the lives of many honest officers who are willing to uphold the law of the land,” CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing in a memorandum submitted to Home Minister Roshan Warjri on Wednesday said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ri-Bhoi superintendent of police, C.V.S. Reddy said according to the post-mortem report, it appears to be a case of suicide. Allegedly, Marbaniang shot himself with his service revolver on January 24 at around 9pm.
Marbaniang succumbed to his wounds at a Guwahati hospital.