Supervisory head of the SIT, ADG (Law & Order), Sandeep M Tamgadge addressing a press conference in Kohima on January 13 on the status of the investigation on the Oting (Mon) killings. (Photo Courtesy: Nagaland Police/Twitter)
Forensic report still awaited to compile final report
Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 13
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiring into the December 4 Oting killings and subsequent events has disclosed that it was in the process of preparing the final report, pending the arrival of forensic reports. The SIT on Oting held its first official interaction with the press on January 13 in Kohima, since its formation on December 5. The deadline to complete the investigation was one month.
The institution of the SIT was preceded by the Mon police registering a suo moto case at the Tizit Police Station, which was subsequently transferred to the State Crime Police Station Kohima.
The supervisory head of the SIT, ADG (Law & Order), Sandeep M Tamgadge, told the press conference the team has examined more than 85 civilian witnesses, including the two surviving victims that were first taken to the Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, and the other injured persons, besides government officials.
“The field investigation, in the form of recording the statements of the victims and witnesses is over while the forensics are under process,” he said, while informing that the forensic reports from Guwahati and Hyderabad are awaited. The final report will be submitted to the court as and when the forensic reports arrive, he added. The exhibits for examination included soil and blood samples. There was however no mention of ballistics examination.
Tamgadge, while citing legal procedure, maintained that it is not legally tenable to go public with the SIT’s report before it goes to the courtroom. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, maintaining more or less the same legal posture, said on January 12.
“We have to explain to them that there is some norm. The Army side is also submitting their report very soon. So I have to ask whether legally it is permissible or not. I will have to confirm,” said Rio on the sidelines of a programme.
He also informed that the SIT have issued summons to the army officials, including the Assam Rifles, under CrPC section 91, for collection of the documents and the names of the army personnel who were part of the operation. He said that the team has examined 37 officers and other ranks of the army and Assam Rifles, while adding that the army and security forces have been cooperative with the SIT.
According to Tamgadge, the SIT has visited the scene of crime on multiple occasions over the past one month, collecting material evidence in the process.
Originally comprising of five core members, led by IGP (Range) Limasunep Jamir as the Chief Investigation Officer, more police officers were “co-opted” as the investigation progressed, raising the number of investigators to 21.
The team was divided into task specific units—witness examination, cyber technical analysis, documentation, investigation of incident site, evidence collection and so on.
