Org. senses something wrong in ‘suspicious death’
Dimapur, July 6: The Western Chakhesang Hoho has sought the intervention of the governor of Nagaland in the investigations around the death of a policeman at the Regimental Centre at Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh which the organization stated was ‘under suspicious circumstances.’
The organization issued a copy of a presentation addressed to Governor PB Acharya.
Sepoy Vezota Vasa expired on June 23 at the Jat Regimental Centre at Bareilly under suspicious circumstances, the organization stated in the representation. His mortal remains was brought to Dimapur and laid to rest on the 25th, the organization stated.
The organization said that they were made to understand that on the 23rd, one Col. Leevan had informed V Vasa, the father of the policeman, over the phone stating that his son was no more.
“Immediately Mr. Vasa requested the officer not to conduct post-mortem till his arrival. On 24/06/16 when the father and family members of the deceased reached at 0115 hrs, they insisted to see the dead body but it was refused,” the Chakhesang organization stated.
The representation added: “It was only at around 0900 hrs that the authorities allowed them to see the forehead and half part of the chest and fresh blood stains were visible. Thereafter, the authorities and the bereaved family agreed to clean the corpse between 1800 hrs and 1900 hrs. Surprisingly, the dead body was cleaned and wrapped before they reached the morgue, located within the regimental battalion. The family members’ requested to allow the garments to be put on the dead body but was also not allowed.”
The organization stated that the tragic end of the soldier, who the organization said was young, energetic and a jovial person, ‘cannot be termed as suicide for the simplest of reasons…’
The organization gave the following reasons (unedited):
1. As per the FIR lodged by the Regimental Centre, Sepoy Ajay Kumar was the first person who found the body of Sepoy Vezota Vasa at about 0530 hrs in the toilet which is about 12 feets away from the barrack but the incident was reported to the occupants of the barrack only after 40 minutes.
2. The photographs available with the police show that the button of the victim’s half-pant was opened and unzipped.
3. Fresh sweat was seen which means that the victim could have survived if emergency medical attention was provided.
4. Photographs also reveal that the victim was wearing his slippers and there was no stiffness in his feet.
5. The family members were not allowed to meet Sepoy Ajay Kumar and the barrack-mates feigned ignorance and were not cooperative.
‘Likewise, there are many instances of it regularities but since police investigation is on, we have faith in the rule of law. However, we request you to personally intervene into the matter and see that the truth is unfolded at the earliest by conducting a fair and impartial investigation. Those found guilty should be adequately punished because atrocities and ill-treatment to tribal army personnel are very common and the same should be discouraged at all cost,’ the representation added.
