By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 15: East Khasi Hills Police on Wednesday made a major disclosure in the murder of 39-year-old Eilang Phawa, claiming that the accused, Kennedy Khongsit, allegedly killed her in a fit of rage during a heated argument triggered by irritation when she teased him.
Informing this on Wednesday, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said Khongsit, who was recently arrested in connection with the murder of a 7-year-old boy at Nongrah, has been remanded to eight days’ police custody in the case of Eilang Phawa’s murder.
“We got 8 days custody for Kennedy Khongsit and in this case, we have done a substantial amount of interrogation and today we have done reconstruction on his admission to the crime,” Syiem stated.
Detailing the reconstruction, the SP said Khongsit led the police team, in the presence of independent witnesses, to the site where he demonstrated how he committed the crime. He took the victim behind the house to a public toilet area, slapped her on a concrete structure in a fit of rage, and later disposed of her body packed in a sack.
Phawa went missing on March 20 and her body was recovered on April 6 from a stream in the Nongrah-Lapalang area.
According to Syiem, initial interrogation revealed that Khongsit had befriended Phawa but got irritated when she said something that teased him, which he didn’t like. “Rage is the reason behind the murder,” the SP said, adding that what started as a friendly interaction turned violent due to his sudden reaction.
The reconstruction was carried out in the presence of Deputy Superintendent of Police Jyoti Wahlang, senior officers, Special Operations Team (SOT) personnel, and the Forensic Crime Scene unit. Khongsit was escorted to his residence at Nongrah Lummarboh, a nearby shop, the abandoned structure (now identified as the primary crime scene), and other locations he visited with the victim.
A tea stall owner in Nongrah had earlier confirmed that the two were together at her shop between 5 pm and 5:30 pm on March 20, with the victim appearing uncomfortable and trying to leave early.
Syiem confirmed that the accused’s psychological assessment has been completed and he has been found to be mentally stable. On the accused’s background, the SP said it is yet to be fully ascertained.
Khongsit is already in custody for the October 2025 murder of a seven-year-old boy in Mawpat, in which he is also accused of killing the child in a fit of rage.
