WILLIAMNAGAR: An eerie silence prevailed outside the morgue of the Williamnagar Civil Hospital despite the huge gathering outside on Monday morning. Inside, the autopsy was being conducted on the bodies of NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma and three other victims who were killed in an IED explosion triggered by suspected GNLA militants outside of remote Sawilgre village in Samanda the previous night.
While some spoke in hushed tones, anger was palpable. After all, Jonathone had a strong following among his supporters. They had been mooting for his victory in the upcoming polls and the late NCP candidate had pulled out all stops, vigorously campaigning across the length and breadth of the constituency, meeting voters in remote villages and assuring them of fulfilling their expectations.
Neither he nor his supporters ever expected such an abrupt end to the rising career of a politician who was only 43 years old.
For many it was all too much. Shortly after his body was handed over to the family by authorities at the hospital morgue, hundreds of citizens from Williamnagar town took out a protest rally condemning the cold-blooded murder and demanding justice for Jonathone.
His family members, particularly his widow and young children, have been inconsolable, having lost their family head at such a young age. Supporters continue to stream in to pay homage to their leader and so too are politicians across party lines as they made a beeline to offer their condolences to the bereaved family.
Those who were with him in the last moments of his life are still unable to come to terms with the tragedy.
Benjamin Marak, a dedicated supporter of Jonathone, was travelling in the same convoy when the attack took place.
“I was seated in the last vehicle when the explosion took place shortly after we had left Sawilgre village where the election campaign had been cancelled after people failed to turn up for the meeting,” said Benjamin.
The convoy of four vehicles, two gypsies, a Scorpio carrying Jonathone and a Mahindra pick-up were descending from Sawilgre village when the blast was triggered.
Jonathone, who was seated in the front seat of the Scorpio, which happened to be the second vehicle in the convoy, took the maximum impact of the blast.
“There were seven occupants in the vehicle which was hit. After the blast we all lay on the ground expecting gunfire. But when no firing occurred we rushed to our candidate’s vehicle and found he along with the others had been hit. We tried to call back the first gypsy since the driver of the Scorpio had been injured and fallen out of the vehicle, but it was too late as the first vehicle had sped away after the blast occurred,” recalled Marak.
According to Jonathone’s supporters, his campaign team had gone that fateful Sunday evening to meet supporters at Jongmegre, Dorakgre and Sawilgre villages to boost the confidence of his people who were living in fear following threats from militants.
“We first went to Jongmegre and Dorakgre to meet villagers and assure them following reports about the pasting of posters warning them not to vote for our candidate. We told them not to worry as we would be calling them to Williamnagar soon,” said the eye witness to the crime.
Their first hint of something not being right was noticed when they reached Sawilgre village after dark.
“We had gone to Sawilgre because we were invited by the villagers 2-3 days back to meet them and discuss their problems over supper. But when we reached the venue of the meeting, which was in the village playground, we found no one but empty chairs and despite calls to gather no one turned up,” said the eye witness.
Two ladies of the village who were called to come with their families to the meeting reportedly declined citing absence of their spouses.
Realising something was amiss, the campaign team of around 30 people cancelled their proposed meeting, boarded their vehicles and took off only to face tragedy moments later.
The militants had planted a powerful IED on the left side wall of the road which exploded with devastating impact as Jonathone’s vehicle passed by, ending lives and hopes, leaving behind a shattered family, bereaved followers and an unfulfilled promise. And a tale of dark forebodings.
