Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Nov 26: The family of former MLA late Ngurang Pinch, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances on November 18, has alleged that his death was a pre-planned murder.
Claiming that there are several loopholes in the case, the family has called for time-bound investigation by the SIT, so that culprit(s) do not get an opportunity to destroy the evidence.
“As per the statement of team members, his body was found in the morning around 7.30 AM. But it was informed to me only at 1.56 PM. The area where they were rafting has mobile network. Why did they take such a long time to inform the family? It looks like the remaining team members held a meeting and took the decision to hide the truth in order to save the killer,” said Ngurang Yallar, wife of late Pinch.
She also dismissed the police version that late Pinch died due to drowning in the river.
“If a person dies due to drowning, usually water is found inside the body. But in this case it was not. Initially, we were told that it was an eight-member river rafting expedition. But actually there were 21 people, including seven girls. Why did the team members lie about it? It seems everyone is hiding something regarding the death of my husband”, she said while speaking to this daily.
She appealed to the SIT to properly investigate the matter so that the truth comes out.
“I cannot get back my husband but I want justice for his soul. Everyone, including his family members and his well wishers deserve to know the truth behind his death,” she added.
She further went on to add, “Apart from the political rivalry, my husband had no enmity with anyone. Therefore, his death smacks of political links. We don’t claim that all the members who were part of the rafting team are involved, but definitely someone killed him and therefore the truth needs to be told” she said.
She alleged that members of the rafting team are being evasive and are giving contradictory versions of the circumstances leading to his death.
“Initially, some member even lied to us that they were not part of the team. Only when pressure started to build up, they accepted that they were part of the team”, she said.
She also alleged that the rafting programme was planned by someone else and late Pinch was cajoled into joining the team by the organizers.
Meanwhile, the family has welcomed the decision of the state government to handover the case to an SIT, but has warned that if investigation is not done properly, they would seek CBI investigation.
The family has lodged two FIRs at Balijan Police Station in this regard. Many prominent personalities, including former ministers Tater Kipa and Atum Welly were also part of the rafting team.
