Custodial death: Notices issued to officials

SHILLONG, JUNE 18: Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the state government and police officials including the West Garo Hills district SP Mukesh Singh in the custodial death of one Balsan Marak last month.

A division bench headed by Meghalaya high court chief justice PC Pant and justice TNK Singh heard a writ petition filed by the family members of Balsan on Tuesday and directed all the respondents, including addl SP Bruno Marak, Investigating Officer  PC Marak and the SP’s personal security officer Govind Newar to file their reply within a month.

The petitioners sought the court’s direction for an independent inquiry by the CBI into the sudden and mysterious death of twenty year-old Balsan who was serving a 14 day-judicial custody on May 20 at Tura in West Garo hills district.

Balsan and four others were arrested on May 13 for their alleged role in confining 12 young women and torturing them, a case that was registered by the police.

The family members have also sought a compensation of Rs 21 lakhs from the state government and also demanded those involved in the alleged torture of Balsan be brought to book.

The deceased was referred to the district Civil hospital on May 17 and May 19 by the jail medical officer Dr BC Paul after the accused complaint of high fever and an ear problem found during screening on May 14, the jail superintendent J J Sangma had informed.

The deceased mother Mina S Marak, however, sense foul play and alleged that her son died because of police torture.

She also alleged that Balsan was picked up on May 12th and not on May 13 as claimed by the police.

Since it was also brought to the court’s notice that the post mortem report and the death certificate was not issued to the family members till now, the two members bench has also directed the Deputy Commissioner to hand over a copy of the documents to the petitioner.

In the petition, the family members have also sought a direction from the Court for constituting the state human rights commission which would deal with human rights violation by the authorities.- By Our Reporter