SHILLONG, May 31: A man allegedly murdered his two minor children aged four and two years by slitting their throats at Wahktieh, Nongrah Nonglum on Monday night.
Identified as Joefreeson Jana, the man reportedly absconded after committing the crime but was arrested from his residence on Tuesday evening.
He was brought to Shillong Civil Hospital for medical examination after which he was shifted to Sadar police station for interrogation.
Earlier in the day, a police team led by SP (City) Vivek Syiem shifted the bodies of the two minors to NEIGRIHMS for autopsy. A dog squad was taken to the scene of the crime.
Police said such killing had last taken place in September 2008 when Fullmoon Dhar and two others murdered two women – Walangki Papang (21) and Jublian Kharmawlong (38) – in a forested area in Mawpdang village.
A relative of Jana said there was nothing suspicious about the man when he had taken his two children out on Monday evening as usual.
The Rangbah Shnong of Nongrah, B Pyngrope said he was informed by one of the family members of the victims that they went to file an FIR at the Rynjah police station at around 11:30 pm on Monday as the mobile phone of the father was switched off. Pyngrope said he was told that the police would start tracing the man and his two children after 10 am on Tuesday. But he received a call at around 8:15 am, informing him that the bodies of the two minors had been found in Wahktieh.
“We are pained to learn about this tragic incident. We cannot express how shocking it is for all of us,” he said, condemning the murder that has “instilled fear” among the villagers.
Pyngrope said the villagers searched the surrounding woods for the man in vain. He also said the villagers have never had any complaints against the man.
The Rangbah Dong and other members of the Dorbar Shnong found it difficult to believe he could a murderer as he had a calm personality and was a man of very few words.
The Chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Iamonlang Syiem along with District Child Protection Officer, M Warjri also visited the spot.
They expressed shock over this incident and strongly condemned the gruesome murders.
Former MLA and UDP general secretary, Jemino Mawthoh condemned the twin murder after visiting the spot.
The CSWO has condemned the death of the two minors and said that such crimes should be strongly opposed in a civil society.
The organisation asked the police to nab the person involved in the killing and speed up the investigation into such heinous crimes.
