Sangtam apex body demands fair probe into Assam Rifles personnel’s mysterious death

With unanswered questions continuing to swirl around the recent death of an Assam Rifles personnel in Nagaland, the United Sangtam Likhüm Pümji (USLP), the apex tribal body of the Sangtam community, has written to the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (North) seeking a “fair and thorough investigation” into what it described as a “mysterious death.”

In a letter addressed to the IGAR (North) in Kohima, the USLP expressed deep concern over the death of  Tsalichum Sangtam, son of the late Lichose Sangtam, who was serving with the 12th Assam Rifles. The deceased was reportedly found dead “at the premises of AR Composite Hospital, Shokhuvi.”

“The United Sangtam Likhüm Pümji (USLP), the apex Tribal body of Sangtam Community is extremely disturbed by the mysterious death of Mr. Tsalichum Sangtam… a personnel of 12th Assam Rifles,” the letter stated.

USLP said it had been “patiently waiting for the authorities to come out with a Post Mortem and forensic reports for more than 48 hours” but to its “dismay,” no such reports have been received despite the completion of post-mortem formalities. “This shows a complete lackadaisical attitude on the part of the investigating authorities,” the organisation said.

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Calling for urgent intervention, the apex body demanded “that a thorough and impartial investigation should be done without any bias” and that “all forensic reports are done without haphazard and should be submitted and communicated to this Office without any further delay in order to maintain peace and harmony in the region.”

While maintaining that it has full faith in the authority of the Assam Rifles to conduct a just investigation, the USLP pointedly noted that “the nature of the death inside the highly security camp and in the premises of the hospital cannot be ruled out as suicide case.”

It further assured full cooperation from its end “where and when needed to ensure that the justice is delivered to the bereaved family members without further delay.” Quoting the maxim, “Justice delayed is justice denied,” the USLP cautioned that “any situation that deteriorates due to negligence and lapses on the part of the authorities, USLP shall not be held any responsible.”

MT