Chekiye rehab death: Five in Dimapur Police custody

DIMAPUR — Dimapur Police have arrested five persons—including the owner of Yeshu Arms Wellness Foundation—after initiating a suo motu case into the death of a 46-year-old man who was brought dead from the rehabilitation centre at Chekiye village, Chümoukedima.

A press note issued by the Commissioner of Police on Thursday stated that Diphuhar Police Station received a call from the Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR) at around 3 pm on November 26, informing them that a body had been brought in from the rehab facility.

A police team rushed to the hospital, where the doctor confirmed that the individual had been brought dead.

The deceased was identified as Pradeep Basumatary, a resident of Urimghat in Golaghat district, Assam.

An inquest conducted at the hospital revealed multiple visible injuries, including bruises on both lower limbs and buttocks, and marks on the legs, left cheek and left hand.

Also read: Resident dies after alleged beating at Chekiye rehab centre

The injuries appeared to be caused by a blunt object, leading investigators to suspect that Basumatary was physically assaulted, possibly resulting in his death. The body has been shifted to Dimapur District Hospital for post-mortem.

Police said that four individuals allegedly involved in the suspected assault, along with the rehab centre’s owner, have been arrested and are in custody.

The case is being investigated “thoroughly,” with all forensic and procedural steps being documented to ensure swift prosecution, it stated.

Alongside the criminal probe, police have launched a parallel inquiry into the rehabilitation centre’s functioning, examining its licensing status, operational compliance, and whether it has adequate in-house medical support, including qualified mental health professionals.

The expanded investigation aims to ensure accountability and verify whether the facility was operating within mandated norms, it added.