TURA, MAY 23: Educational institutions in the five districts of Garo hills remained closed on Friday as a mark of protest against the custodial death of Balsan S Marak. All schools and colleges remain close in response to the call given by the GSU and other ngos.
The ngos headed by the GSU will also hold a public rally on May 27 as part of their protest against the custodial death.
Marak was arrested with two others on May 13 based on an FIR by one of the girls who was illegally detained and allegedly tortured by some activists. The girls were kept captive for eight days by activists led by Jaynie Ningring Sangma, in the outskirt of Tura town.
Marak and three others were arrested on charges of abetment and criminal intimidation and were remanded to 14 days judicial custody.
The educational institutions closure was also called to pressurize the government to institute a judicial probe into the causes that led to the death Balsan at the Tura Civil hospital while still in judicial custody.
Of the five men who were arrested along with Balsan for abetment in the illegal detention of the twelve girls, three of them will be produced in the court on Monday. The case of the minor boy will be dealt separately under Juvenile Act.
A magisterial probe, including a high level probe headed by commissioner of division (Garo hills), PW Ingty is on. It is alleged that Balsan died because of police torture.
Chief minister Mukul Sangma, however, has ruled out judicial probe. He assured that the government will punish those found to guilty after getting a the probe report which has already been instituted.
The bail plea of the other five ‘activists’ who allegedly confined the girls and torture them had been rejected by the court.
The activists — Jaynie Ningring Sangma (37), Babiana M. Sangma (42), Merryln D. Shira (52), Konica S. Sangma (37), and Lonavi R. Sangma (34) will be produced in the court on June 3 again.
The bail petitions of the activists were rejected on two occasions – May 11 and May 19. The court extended their judicial remand for another 14 days.
West Garo Hills SP Mukesh Singh in the meantime refuse to divulge on the chargesheet against the activists as he said that the matter is under investigation.
The District Medical and Health Officer has also submitted the port-mortem report to the deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi and the report is yet to be disclosed. He said, “The report will be submitted before the enquiry.”
Ingty will see the report first.- By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours