CID sleuths seize weapon used in killing ex-DGP's maid

Shillong, July 14 (UNI) CID sleuths have seized a 'sharp weapon' used in killing a domestic help of former Meghalaya Director General of Police William Richmond Marbaniang.

Constable Arwil Sangma, prime accused in murdering 26-year-old Rinehskhem Kharsohnoh on March 17, broke down yesterday and led the investigating team to seize the weapon from the residence of his colleague.

Sangma, an orderly of the former DGP, was arrested on June 9 from Mr Marbaniang's residence.

''He confessed to have killed the maid servant and claimed that he had an affair with Rinehskhem,'' Investigating Officer T Chacko told UNI here today.

Shimti Kharshohnoh, the victim's mother, had reportedly told CID sleuths that her daughter had an affair with Sangma. Though the accused had confessed to his crime, Mr Chacko said his investigating team would continue to glean more information on the incident. ''We are half-way of our investigation and more is to be done to find out the involvement of others in the case,'' he said.

The CID sleuths had also recorded the statements of Mr Marbaniang and his wife besides his home guards and orderlies with regard to the incident.

Initially, the state police had claimed that the domestic help had committed suicide but the post mortem report confirmed that it was a homicide case.

The murder had been witnessing huge public protests, forcing the government to order a CBI probe.

A local advocate had even filed a PIL into the mysterious death of the maid stating that, ''the police had created enough confusion in the minds of the public and even tried to cover up the case as a suicide case.'' Earlier, Chief Minister D D Lapang, who ordered a CBI probe, had admitted that Kharshohnoh was murdered and had not committed suicide.

UNI