Nagaland DGP rules out foul play in Mon death case

KOHIMA — Amid tense situation in Sonari, Assam, after two of its residents were found dead earlier this week, in what has been reported by the police as a case of road accident, the Director of General Police (DGP) Nagaland, Rupin Sharma, said there was no foul play and “no murder” in connection with the incident.

The police retrieved the bodies of Latil Nowholia and Utpal Tassam, both from Sonari, along with the pick-up truck they travelling in about 200 feet below the road in Mon district during a search operation on Monday.

“I don’t think there is any foul play in this (case) or any attempt to hide anything,” said Sharma during a press conference at PHQ, Kohima, on Wednesday.

On allegations made by the people of Assam that a post-mortem examination was not conducted on the two dead bodies, he said the cause of death was “apparent enough” not to conduct it.

“Regular post-mortem is required if only because the cause of death is otherwise not apparent. In this case, the cause was apparent enough to the doctor that he did not need to cut the abdomen. This is the primary reason,” the DGP said, citing doctor’s report.

Doctors in Mon said that the cause of death was very apparent because of severe injuries to the head. That is why regular post-mortem was not done, he said, adding that there was “no murder or conspiracy” and the Assam Police and Superintendent of Police, Mon can take a call on the case.

ADGP (Admin), Renchamo P Kikon, also said the cause of the death of one of the victims was a severe fracture on the head, while the other had fractures in the cervical and spinal cord. It was evident to the doctors on the cause of the death because of these two reasons, he added.

‘According to the medical standard operating procedure, when the cause of death is apparent, it is not necessary to cut open the abdomen in any of the post-mortem examinations. This is the stand of the medical officer,’ he relayed.

Also read: Mon tragic incident completely a case of road accident, no foul play linked, says DC