Shillong, July 31 (PTI): Meghalaya Director General of Police S B Singh today said a murder case was registered against constable Lusen A Sangma who shot dead havildar Litsingh Inghi in West Jaintia Hills district on Sunday. “We have registered a murder case against the constable (Lusen A Sangma),” the DGP told PTI.
He said, “As a corrective measure, the district police chiefs and battalion commandants in the state were also directed to sensitize and educate the force on maintaining discipline and comradeship among the personnel.”
Constable Lusen A Sangma shot dead havildar Litsingh Inghi in the early hours of Sunday at the Third Battalion camp at Sabsein village, around 15 km from Jowai the district headquarters.
Sangma, who was reportedly in an inebriated condition, rushed to the room of Inghi and fired six rounds from his weapon killing the latter at the spot even as the latter s friends were spared.
The Sunday s incident came in less than a month of another fratricide incident in East Khasi Hills district even as the person who was shot at escaped miraculously.
The DGP maintained that the police force is man power intensive force and hence the issue of ‘man-management’ is very critical. Stating that the two incidences as ‘mere aberrations’, Singh said, “Lots of stress is given on training and maintaining discipline.”
He said the aberrations could be because of many factors including personal problems, or the stress level and it could be also because of alcohol. “Other things must have gone wrong and, alcohol only enhances and accentuates the enmity between them and to settle the grudges irrespective of the ranks,” Singh said.
West Jaintia Hills district SP R Muthu said apart from a look out notices shared with all district police chiefs in the state, Assam Police were also alerted of the incident and to try and nab the outlawed constable. Muthu also said that procedures is being followed to freeze Lusen s bank account shortly and his exact location cannot be ascertained as his mobile phone was found switched off following the incident.
Lusen, who escaped the camp by firing about 15 rounds into the air, has also taken the official weapon with him. Asked if he is likely to land up with the armed militant outfits in the Garo Hills region, Muthu said, “It is not likely to happen.”
According to the SP, Lusen was found to be a ‘habitual offender of indiscipline’ in the force wherever he was posted. In the past, he would remain absent beyond the number of days allowed and then appear again, the SP said.
