Another death in police custody was recorded today when a suspected gang leader reportedly hanged himself in his cell.
According to police, Rudra Rabha had been arrested on April 24 and was remanded in police custody for five days on April 25.
Police said that Rabha is a leader of a gang notorious for pilfering Sal trees, motorcycles, and betel nuts.
During interrogation, the suspect told police he had hidden a country made firearm in a jungle and agreed to lead the authorities to the spot. Accordingly, Rabha took police to the area in Ranibari jungle. The firearm was recovered and Rabha was taken back to Khanapara (as there is no lock-up in Rani Jirang border outpost), reaching there at around 1am today.
However, just three hours later, the sentry on duty found that Rabha had hung himself from the bars of the lock-up with a piece of cloth that he may have obtained by tearing the sheets provided him.
It may be mentioned that on March 26, police arrested two other gang members, Ajit Rabha (18) and Kavita Rabha (18), after a brief shootout in the jungle of Ranibari village.
During a subsequent raid at Ajit Rabha’s residence, authorities seized a homemade SBML gun and several ammunition.
An executive magistrate has been deputed by the district administration to conduct an inquest in the presence of a Medical Officer under proper videography/photography at the place of occurrence, the SP added.
Dhanoa also said that a case regarding the suicide has been registered at Nongpoh and an investigation is underway.
There have been more than 50 custodial deaths in Meghalaya since 2012. The Meghalaya High Court had tried to set compensation amounts last year for those who died unnatural deaths in custody but the state government appealed to the Supreme Court and it stayed the High Court order in January this year.
