KOHIMA, JULY 20: Following the mysterious and tragic death of Sepoy Vezota Vasa of Jaat Regiment at Bareilly, UP on June 23, Vekhwutso Vasa, father of the deceased suspected a foul play arising out of hatred and jealousy.
Stating this in a press conference held this afternoon at the conference hall of Kohima Press Club, Vasa said, his son used to complain of abuse and ill-treatment meted out to him by other inmates. He alleged that there may be more than one persons involved in the death of his son.
Recounting the events, Vasa said the information about his son’s death was communicated to him on June 23 by Colonel Jeevan at 7:50 am, whereby he requested the Colonel to keep the post mortem in abeyance until his arrival at the Jaat Regiment Centre, Bareilly (UP).
Upon reaching the Centre, the following day at 01:15 hrs, Vasa said to their shock, the family members were flatly denied permission to see the dead body of late Sepoy Vezota Vasa. It was only at around 0900 hrs, they were permitted to see only a partial sight of the body in which they noticed only the forehead and half part of the chest which was stained with blood.
He said, it was agreed upon with the authorities that the family would do the honour of cleaning the dead body of their beloved son at 1800 hrs to 1900 hrs and put on the necessary garments as their last duty and respect to the mortal remains of their beloved son.Vekhwutso Vasa, however said, to their dismay, the authorities had already cleaned up and wrapped the dead body and placed it in the morgue which is in total contradiction to their understanding reached.
Recounting the events, Vasa said, as per the FIR lodged by Regimental Centre, Bareilly (UP) at SHO, Police Station Cantt, the first person to have witnessed the dead body of Late Vesota Vasa is said to be one, Sepoy Ajay Kumar at 5:30 am on June 23.
However, he said the incident was reported to the barrack after a gap of 40 minutes at 6:10 am, when the distance between the barrack and the toilet where the dead body was found is only 12 feet away.
In this regard, Vasa questioned as to why such a matter of grievous nature was reported after such a long gap of 40 minutes, and more so they were flatly denied to meet Sepoy Ajay Kumar and the response given to the queries of the family by the barrack mates were very casual too.
He also said the crime scene (the toilet) was washed and cleaned even before they could reached, his bed and cupboards were emptied, and that his son’s clothes, bank passbook and ATM were also retained.
Taking into consideration all the evidences collected by the family members, and the photographs available with the police, Vekhwutso Vasa said his son’s death is definitely not a case of suicide as claimed by the authorities.
Vasa said, the pictures taken by the police clearly indicated no signs of struggle wherein his slipper was intact, and fresh sweat could also be seen. He said, if his son was taken to hospital for emergency medical treatment then and there, he could have survived.
Citing many doubtful instances of the happenings in the unnatural death of his son, Vasa asserted that there appears to be deep connivance of conspiracy and foul play involved.
He informed that the family members have also met the Governor, wherein he assured to write to the Defence Minister at the Centre to enquire into the matter.
Earlier on July 7, the Western Chakhesang Hoho had submitted a representation to the Governor seeking the intervention of the state government into the investigation, and deliver justice to the family members of late Sepoy Vezota Vasa.
With no response from the state government on this matter till now, the family members of late Sepoy Vezota Vasa sought the cooperation and support of the government and citizens towards speeding up the investigation so that justice is delivered by awarding appropriate punishment to the culprit (s) at the earliest.
