One dies in police custody; family urges for magisterial inquiry

Our Correspondent

Diphu, Dec. 14 (EMN): One person identified as Dipendra Phangcho (30), a driver by profession, died while in police custody at Hamren District jail in Assam on Tuesday evening.

The deceased, along with three others, were arrested on charges of theft. He hailed from Chinthong Rongkarbi Rongphar village under Baithalangso police station and is survived by his wife and four children.

According to his family, on Sunday, Dipendra Phangcho’s vehicle was hired by three persons for Sing Doloi area to pick up some domestic materials but halfway, loaded a stolen gas cylinder and a gas cutter.

The police from Ulukunchi police arrested the three persons who hired the vehicle along with the driver and took them to Ulukunchi Police Out-Post from Sing Doloi. At the police outpost they were detained for the night. The next day (Monday) they were then brought to Baithalangso police station and held for the night there. On Tuesday, they were taken to Hamren District jail where the incident occured.

The family said that they met the deceased inside the Baithalangso police station before he was sent to Hamren District jail where he was fit and fine.

Inside the jail, the victim suddenly fell down while tightening his mosquito net. After which, the deceased complained of a headache. He was taken to Hamren Civil Hospital but died while taking treatment.

The family members have urged upon the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Chief Executive Member (CEM), Tuliram Ronghang to intervene in the case and to constitute a magisterial inquiry.

Earlier, informing the media, the Superintendent of Police, West Karbi Anglong, Indranil Barua said, “Four people were detained by locals while trying to steal material from a parked road roller with a gas cutter and later handed over to the police.”

The other three apprehended persons have been identified as Bikramsing Singnar, Raju Teron and Phutokon Roy.