Shillong, Oct 9: A seven-year-old boy, who went missing from Lum Marboh in Nongrah, was found dead at a roadside near Lumrumnong-Mawpat this morning.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed that the boy was murdered and dumped there.
“All indications point to a homicide and the post-mortem examination will provide a clearer picture of the kind of injury,” Syiem told reporters.
Kyrshanbor Kharmudai, went missing on Wednesday at 4 pm. A massive search was conducted soon after he was reported missing by both police and the community.
Syiem said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is likely to be formed soon, given the nature of the crime. “This case will warrant the requirement of an SIT because it involves the ‘murder’ of a child,” he added.
Kyrshanbor, an orphan under the care of his aunt, was last seen playing outside their home before he vanished. His aunt told reporters she had called him in for tea, but he did not return. When her search failed, she immediately informed local authorities, triggering the extensive operation.
This is the second such case reported from Nongrah locality. Last month, a four-year-old girl, Insaphira Lyngdoh Mawnai, was found dead at a construction site a day after she went missing. A 13-year-old boy was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board in connection with the death.
Syiem said it was too early to link the two incidents, but assured that all angles would be investigated.
The Nongrah Dorbar has appealed to residents to install tube lights in front of their houses and to those who can afford to install CCTVs.
Meanwhile, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) has condemned the gruesome, despicable and cowardly murder of an orphan and urged the Home Department to seriously investigate and bring the perpetrator (s) to book.
VPP Spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh expressed anguish and accused police for inefficiency. “The department has failed to be responsible enough to ensure safety of citizens, particularly children, by apprehending alleged attempted kidnappers in various parts of Shillong and nearby areas,” he said.
“It is the solemn duty of the government to safeguard citizens. Repeated failures on part of the government may precipitate a situation where law-abiding citizens might take law into their own hands – a scenario the government must prevent at all costs,” Myrboh said.
The Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress said, “This is no longer an isolated incident, it is a deeply disturbing pattern that raises grave concerns about the safety of our children and the complete failure of law enforcement agencies to respond effectively after the first tragedy.”
Mahila Congress President Joplyn Scott Shylla has demanded a high-level investigation into both cases. “We call for the immediate identification and arrest of the perpetrators responsible for these heinous acts. Justice must be swift, transparent, and uncompromising,” she added.
“This is a moment of reckoning for the government, for the police, and for society at large. No more lives must be lost due to systemic negligence and indifference,” the Mahila Congress said.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, however, said it would be unfair to place all blame on the police. “We need to also have proper education for parents; they need to take care of the kids. How did the child disappear? From the police side, we are trying our best to ensure the safety of citizens,” he said.
He further appealed to the public to be more cautious and vigilant. “You cannot say lapses happen just because of the police force. My appeal to everyone is, let us take care of our children and be more alert. Nowadays you really don’t know what might happen. Please ensure that wherever you go or whatever you do, you understand whether it is safe or not,” he added.
