Dimapur, July 6 (MExN): The Western Chakhesang Hoho (WCH) has written to the Governor of Nagaland to look into the death of Naga Sepoy Vezota Vasa at the Jat Regimental Centre in Bareilly (UP); the circumstances of his death have been found by his family and community to be “suspicious.”
In its representation to Governor PB Acharya, the WCH requested him to “personally intervene” on the matter of Vasa’s death to see to it that the “truth is unfolded at the earliest by conducting a fair and impartial investigation.” Late Vasa, who originally hailed from Dzhulhami village in Phek district but was a resident of Dimapur, died on June 23 last at the age of 25. His mortal remains were brought to Dimapur and buried on June 25. He had joined the Indian army’s Jat Regiment band in Bareilly in 2011, and is said to have been quite liked by his seniors.
The Jat Regiment has hinted to the family of the deceased that it “may be a case of suicide.” However, the parents suspect “foul play” due to possible “atrocities and ill-treatment to tribal army personnel” that is “very common.” The WCH informed that the deceased had told his sister and father when he was at home for vacation sometime before he died that he was “not comfortable” working for the army and “did not want to continue.”
Narrating the circumstances that led to suspicion, the WCH stated that on June 23, one Col. Jeevan informed the father of the late Sepoy on phone at around 7:50pm that his son was no more. Immediately, the family requested the officer “not to conduct post-mortem” till their arrival. When the father and family members of the deceased reached the station the same night, “they insisted to see the dead body but it was refused.”
Only next morning, informed the WCH, the authorities “allowed them to see the forehead and half part of the chest and fresh blood stains were visible.” WCH President, Vekhosayi Nyekha, who signed the representation on behalf of the community, additionally informed that the parents found red marks on the neck of their deceased son, as well as bruise marks on his cheek.
Thereafter, continued the representation, the authorities and the bereaved family agreed to clean the corpse between 6:00pm and 7:00pm of June 24. “Surprisingly, the dead body was cleaned and wrapped before they reached the morgue, located within the regimental battalion. The family members requested to allow the garments to be put on the dead body but this was also not allowed,” noted the WCH.
Against this backdrop, the WCH and family members of the deceased alleged that “the tragic end of a young, energetic and jovial person cannot be termed as suicide,” for a number of reasons.
One, as per the FIR lodged by the Regimental Centre, “Sepoy Ajay Kumar was the first person who found the body of Sepoy Vezota Vasa at about 0530 hrs in the toilet which is about 12 feet away from the barrack but the incident was reported to the occupants of the barrack only after 40 minutes.”
The family was later denied the opportunity to meet Sepoy Ajay Kumar by the army. His barrack-mates “feigned ignorance and were not cooperative,” noted the representation.
Second, “photographs available with the police show that the button of the victim’s half-pant was opened and unzipped,” which, according to the WCH, signified that he may have gone to the bathroom right before his death. Third, “Fresh sweat was seen which means that the victim could have survived if emergency medical attention was provided.”
Fourth, “Photographs also reveal that the victim was wearing his slippers and there was no stiffness in his feet.” Likewise, “there are many instances of irregularities but since police investigation is on, we have faith in the rule of law,” maintained the WCH.
Urging the Governor to “personally intervene” into the matter, the Western Chakhesang Hoho stressed that “Those found guilty should be adequately punished because atrocities and ill-treatment to tribal army personnel are very common and the same should be discouraged at all cost.”
Copies of the representation have been sent to the Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister of Nagaland, Chief Secretary of Nagaland, President of Naga Hoho, and Convenor of the NPMHR.
