Magisterial inquiry into ULFA's custodial death

Shillong, Aug 16 (UNI) The Meghalaya government have instituted a magisterial inquiry into the custodial death of a senior ULFA cadre inside the police-lock up at Tura in West Garo Hills district.

Dharmen Hajong, a senior cadre of the ULFA's 28 Battalion strike force, arrested on August 2 from Tura market reportedly committed suicide inside the police-lock up before police could glean further information from him.

''Yes, the government has instituted a magisterial inquiry to ascertain the cause of Hajong's death,'' Superintendent of Police, JFK Marak told UNI over the phone.

Additional District Magistrate Hazel V Sangma has been appointed as the inquiry officer for the probe.

''He hanged himself from the grill of the toilet window inside his cell by tearing the blanket and using it as a rope,'' the SP said.

Hajong, who was earlier based in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh came to Garo Hills (Meghalaya) to take charge as area commander of Garo Hills from slain Madan Koch. Koch, operational head of ULFA's '109 battalion' in Garo Hills was gunned down by a joint operation team of the Meghalaya police and the Army.

The region borders Assam and neighbouring Bangladesh. The ULFA uses this corridor to sneak in and out of the country due to its strategic location.

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