Shillong, July 24: Garo Hills based organizations are calling on authorities to institute a fresh probe into the mysterious death of a Tura girl inside the Shillong Polytechnic, two months ago.
The lifeless body of Diana Dimre Ch Marak, who was into her 4th semester pursuing a diploma in civil engineering from the Shillong Polytechnic, was found hanging inside the girl’s hostel during the early hours of May 6, 2024.
Though authorities termed the death as a case of suspected suicide, her family and friends are not buying into that narrative.
As many as five organizations, namely ADE, FKJGP, AYWO and FAF, on Tuesday submitted a joint memorandum to East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner R M Kurbah, seeking her intervention to initiate a fresh probe to get to the bottom of the circumstances that led to Diana’s death.
“The kith and kin of the deceased person had requested us for an audience and accordingly we’ve met whereby, many things were brought to our notice, which does not add up to the current narrative surrounding the death of late Diana, the current narrative being that ‘it is a case of suicide’,” the memorandum said.
The Garo bodies have urged the deputy commissioner to ensure investigators take a relook into the case, citing previous incidents at the institute. They also want the government to install CCTV inside the hostel as a safety measure, particularly for the girl students.
“We would like to clarify that we have not formed any opinion against any individual(s), nor are we accusing anybody of committing any crime. However, we will persevere that justice should be provided to the deceased, her family members and her clan members and due procedure should be maintained in every step of the investigation without any omission or commission,” stated the group memo.
The move seeking a fresh probe comes after a meeting between the clans of Diana’s parents – Chambugong and Te’gite Mahari – that pointed out to the “unnatural and bizarre” sequences of events bringing them to the conclusion that there was a strong possibility of foul play into her death.
Consequently, the two clans filed an FIR against the alleged report of suicide of late Diana via a zero FIR at the Tura Sadar Police Station on May 16.
Furthermore, a letter to the SP of East Khasi Hills was also forwarded by the Chairman of the Babupara Chambugong Mahari Association.
There have been allegations of a shoddy investigation into her death and alleged lackadaisical attitude of the authorities when even a copy of the post mortem report was not handed over to the bereaved family for well over two weeks. It was only after Late Diana’s clan filed a Zero FIR with police on May 16th that they received a copy of the post mortem report.
The clan has been dissatisfied with the post mortem report as the medical examiner’s opinion to the cause of death was concluded as Asphyxia due to hanging. “The medical officer who conducted the post-mortem failed to send any specimens for Histopathology investigation which is required for any credible autopsy report/post mortem report, especially if the deceased is a female as per the law,” pointed out the petitioning Garo bodies.
Five co-students were named in the FIR filed on May 16th, but no interrogation has been carried out against them, allege these organizations.
“The police officer who took down the body of the deceased before the arrival of relatives, despite their request to wait for the relatives should be interrogated. The person who claimed to be a faculty member of the Shillong Polytechnic Institute should be traced and thoroughly interrogated. The roommate of the deceased should be interrogated and asked what rumours they were talking about, as it may have some connection to her death,” the memorandum added.
Demand has also been made for the hostel warden to be interrogated as to why he/she was absent on that fateful day.
The Garo groups have been dismayed by the alleged “lack of concern” from the polytechnic authorities over Late Diana’s death with the director of the institute not even being present at the time of handing over of the body to the family, nor giving any condolence to the bereaved family.
