Shillong, Nov 9: Advocate VK Jindal, grandfather of 16-year-old Ekansh Jindal, has claimed that his grandson was murdered by being administered an overdose of drugs and urged the police to investigate a wider network allegedly involved in supplying narcotics to schoolchildren in Meghalaya.
Addressing the media, Jindal said the circumstances surrounding Ekansh’s death on March 31 pointed towards a suspected case of murder rather than an accidental death, alleging that the accused knowingly administered drugs in quantities that could prove fatal.
Ekansh’s body was found at a house near Umpling bridge, under Rynjah police station, after two persons allegedly informed the family that they had found the boy unconscious beneath a bridge and brought him to their residence.
Jindal said his son and daughter-in-law rushed to the house after receiving the information and found Ekansh lying on the floor with bleeding from his nose and bruises on his lips. He was subsequently taken to Bethany Hospital in an ambulance where he was declared dead on arrival.
Questioning the initial course of the investigation, Jindal alleged that the accused had misled the police by claiming that they had found Ekansh beneath the bridge. He said the first investigating officer was allegedly taken to the bridge in search of evidence, leaving the actual place where the boy was found without adequate examination.
According to Jindal, the post-mortem examination and subsequent clarifications from the doctor indicated the presence of tramadol in Ekansh’s stomach, with diffuse pulmonary oedema recorded as the cause of death. Tramadol is a powerful synthetic opioid.
Jindal said the medical findings suggested that the quantity of the drug found in the boy’s system was sufficient to cause death, irrespective of the injuries found inside his mouth and jaw. He also pointed to needle marks on both arms, alleging that the boy had been administered drugs through injections.
The lawyer further said forensic examination of mobile phones seized during the investigation had revealed several exchanges of calls and WhatsApp messages between Ekansh and the accused, as well as communications between the alleged suppliers.
Citing the forensic findings, he alleged that Ralph Nongrum was in regular contact with a woman identified as Rina Kharshiing, who allegedly supplied drugs to him. He claimed that the evidence indicated that drugs had been supplied on the day of the incident and administered to his grandson in a quantity that proved fatal.
Jindal also alleged that Ekansh and other young students were introduced to drugs through a person known as Sunny, whom he identified as a private tutor in Shillong. He claimed that the individual initially encouraged students to consume ganja before allegedly introducing them to Nongrum for access to other drugs.
According to Jindal, the alleged network involved several people who supplied drugs to young boys, including minors between the ages of 13 and 17.
He said evidence from other boys had also emerged during the investigation, indicating that drugs were allegedly mixed in a container, drawn into syringes and administered to youngsters, with the quantity gradually increased.
Maintaining that his grandson was not a regular drug user, Jindal said Ekansh had been studying at Assam Valley School in Tezpur for the past two years and returned to Shillong on March 30 after completing his Class 10 examinations.
He said Ekansh had scored over 70 percent in his examinations, securing distinction in two subjects, and was also active in sports, particularly cricket, swimming, cycling and horse riding.
The day after arriving back home from Tezpur, Jindal said, Ekansh had lunch with the family before informing them that he was going out to meet friends and would return by 5:30pm. When he failed to return, the family began making enquiries before receiving the call informing them about his condition.
The grandfather also questioned why it took nearly six months for arrests to be made in the case. Police arrested Nongrum and Kharshiing on October 28. The two were subsequently remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
Calling for a deeper investigation, Jindal said the police should not limit their probe to the two arrested persons but identify the larger network allegedly operating behind them, including the sources of the drugs and other people involved in their distribution.
“Ralph Nongrum is only a small link. The investigation must find out who is behind him and who are the other agents operating in Shillong and elsewhere in the state,” he said.
He alleged that drug suppliers were frequently seen around school premises, particularly after classes ended, and were targeting vulnerable students.
Jindal appealed to parents and guardians to remain vigilant about their children’s activities and urged the investigating agency to identify the people responsible for the alleged drug network to prevent more young lives from being lost.
The two accused are scheduled to be produced before the court again on November 11.
