NONGPOH, May 21: A body was found afloat Umiam river near Dwar Ksuid bridge in Umroi Nongrah village on Tuesday morning.
With the assistance of local villagers, the Khapmara Police Investigation Centre (PIC) personnel retrieved the body from the river. Relatives later identified the deceased as Ron Cooper Massar (54), a resident of Umroi Jaiawpdeng, Ri-Bhoi, who had been missing since 4 am on May 20, 2024, after going out for a jog.
Initial police inquiries suggest that the incident may be a case of drowning. Massar, a government employee, worked as a Junior Engineer in Water Conservation department in Shillong. His body has been transported to Nongpoh Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Speaking to the media at Nongpoh Civil Hospital on Tuesday, the deceased’s younger brother, Lister Massar, expressed that the family harbours no suspicions of foul play in Ron Cooper Massar’s death.
He described his brother as a good and upright man with no history of misconduct, suggesting that Massar may have accidentally fallen while jogging.