Inquiry panel directed to submit reports in a month’s time
SHILLONG: The State government has ordered four magisterial inquiries into four different recent incidents — killing of five persons including a school teacher and a woman in West Garo Hills district, the death of a son of a tribal chief (Nokma) in an alleged fake encounter, the death of an under-trial prisoner Rajiv Marak inside Tura district jail premises and the availability and use of mobile phones inside the jail.
The inquiries will be headed by four Additional Deputy Commissioners and four are given one month’s time to submit their reports to the government, West Garo Hills district Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said on Saturday.
According to Bakshi, as far as gruesome murder of five persons is concerned after they were suspected of practicing witchcraft, the ambit of the inquiry shall extend to investigate the circumstances which led to the killings, the role played by villagers and alleged aggressors etc.
In view of the series of allegations and possible intimidation of witnesses the depositions will be recorded on camera. The inquiry shall be conducted by AVD Shira, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tura.
As per guidelines of National Human Rights Commission there will also be a magisterial inquiry into the death of Sengbath Ch Marak – son of a Nokma resulting out of the police operations in Oragitok village where also allegations and counter allegations are being traded, he said.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Sabrella B Marak was tasked with ascertaining the facts as per guidelines and directions of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Bakshi informed that as per the NHRC direction, the third magisterial inquiry would be conducted into the death of UTP Rajiv Marak from Baghmara in Tura district jail.
Though preliminary reports did not suggest any foul play as of now, as per NHRC guidelines any such death in police or judicial custody has to be inquired into by a magistrate .
The inquiry shall be conducted by ZJ Sangma, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tura .
The fourth inquiry was necessitated after the Home Department felt the need to have an inquiry to investigate into the matter of recovery of mobile phones and reports of their use from inside the District Jail, Tura by the UTPs and jail inmates.
Additional Deputy Commissioner S K Marak, who is also holding additional charge of Superintendent of District Jail, was tasked with the job and he was also asked to suggest remedial measures for more effective jail administration, visit by outsiders in the jail, staffing, security related issues and movement of inmates to and from the jail to the district courts and matters thereof, the district administrator said.
It may be mentioned that a police team from Shillong on Thursday last ‘arrested’ the jailed self-styled ‘commander-in-chief’ of Garo Hills-based militant outfit A’chik National Cooperative Army (ANCA) from Tura jail after he had allegedly made an extortion call from his prison cell demanding Rs.3 lakh from a woman in Shillong.
Police also recovered the mobile phone which was used to make the calls from the possession of the self-styled ‘commander-in-chief’ of ANCA William A. Sangma, a resident of Bakrapur, Damra, Assam.
Multiple Inquiries in West Garo Hills
1: Recovery of five bodies in multiple murder case on Feb 23 at Mrigre
2: Killing of Nokma’s son in police raid on March 4 at Oragitok
3: Custodial death of UTP Rajiv Marak in District Jail , Tura on March 6
4: Recovery of mobile phones from a GNLA cadre in Tura jail on March 5