NONGPOH, April 30: The tragic death of nineteen-year-old Walinda Binong at her institute in Rajasthan in questionable circumstances has left her family and the community in shock with demands being raised for a thorough investigation into the incident.
Walinda’s body arrived at her residence on Sunday morning from Rajasthan. Hundreds of people from Nongagang Marngar village gathered to mourn her sudden death.
Leaders of the Marngar community performed traditional rituals before taking the body inside the house, as they claimed that her death was unnatural. Her mortal remains will be cremated on Monday at the Marngar crematorium in Ri-Bhoi.
However, a new twist has emerged in the case with Walinda’s father, Ruby Binong alleging that there were injury marks on her feet and the ligature marks on her neck did not seem like she had hanged herself, but it appeared as if someone had forcefully put marks by rubbing a rope on her neck.
He also claimed that her finger bones were fractured, implying that she might have killed by someone and was struggling for her life minutes before her death.
According to Binong, when he arrived at the School of Design, Mody University in Lakshammgarh, Sikar, Rajasthan, on April 28, he wanted to meet his daughter but instead of taking him to the community health centre, the university authorities took him to the conference hall of the institute and informed that his daughter had consumed poison and hanged herself.
Later, he was taken to the community health centre where doctors informed him that his daughter had been brought dead.
Rubbishing claims that Walinda had taken her own life, Binong stated that she was a bright and promising young girl and had a strong, courageous and honest character. He reiterated that his daughter had informed her mother about the ragging taking place in the college as her seniors were jealous of her achievements.
“I cannot accept the University’s statement that my daughter consumed poison and then hanged herself. How is it possible for a person who has ingested poison to hang themselves? I strongly suspect that my daughter was murdered,” Binong said.
He urged the Meghalaya government to prevail upon the Rajasthan government to conduct a thorough investigation into the case and book those involved as per the law. He also called upon the state government to come up with a policy to ensure the safety of students from the state who are studying outside the region.
Headman of Nongagang Marngar village, O Binong expressed sadness and concern over the incident and urged the Meghalaya government to follow up the case. He also requested that the government take appropriate measures to ensure the security of thousands of students from the state who are studying in various parts of the country.
It may be noted that the Rajasthan Police has registered a case under Section 174 CrPC at Lakshammgarh, Sikar, relating to the death.
