‘Minor’s murder a complex case’
By Our Reporter
Shillong, Nov 10: The police on Monday confirmed that the post-mortem report of the seven-year-old boy from Nongrah, whose body was recovered from Lum Rumnong, Mawpat on October 8, revealed that he died of asphyxia due to suffocation.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP), Vivek Syiem said the alleged murder of the minor is “very complex,” adding that several persons of interest have been identified.
He informed that the police are awaiting additional forensic findings to gather more evidence related to the case.
“The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is actively pursuing all leads, and the investigation will continue until those responsible for the boy’s death are brought to justice,” Syiem said, while confirming that the post-mortem examination ruled out any sexual assault.
Meanwhile, in connection with the alleged murder of a four-year-old girl from the same village, whose body was discovered near her home in Nongrah Nonglum on September 15, the SP said that the police are exploring whether there was any sexual motive behind the crime, though medical examinations have ruled out sexual assault.
He said that the 13-year-old juvenile apprehended in connection with the case was exposed to a significant amount of adult content.
Syiem clarified that investigators are not suggesting sexual assault but are probing whether the exposure to such material could have been a motivating factor.
“The investigation is time-consuming since the accused is a minor. All procedures, including interrogation and examination, had to be conducted under the supervision of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), with counsellors present,” the SP explained.
He further confirmed that the juvenile was the only person present with the victim at the time of her death.
“Initially, we had to establish whether the death was accidental or homicidal. After further examinations, it was confirmed to be a case of homicide,” Syiem said.
