Driver dies, family suspects foul play
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 22 2018:
One Phurailatpam Rocket Sharma alias Inaocha alias Biswanath Sharma (60), former vice president of Barak Valley Drivers' Union died under mysterious circumstances at Silchar Medical College while under the custody of Assam Police on January 14 .
Ph Rocket who was a bus driver plying between Silchar and Guwahati was arrested by Assam Police in connection with an FIR registered at Silchar police station under Sections 419/420/406" of Indian Penal Code on November 17 last year.
He was remanded to judicial custody by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Silchar on November 18.He was granted bail by the Magistrate and was about to be released on furnishing the necessary bail bond on January 17this year, according to a press release issued by the Super Star Club, Thoubal Awang Leikai.
However, Ph Rocket's wife Phurailatpam (O) Kodombini received a phone call on January 14 saying that Rocket suffered a heart attack and he had been taken to Silchar Medical College for treatment.
As Kodombini was then living at Guwahati, she contacted her brother Bramacharimayum Ashwani Sharma at Silchar but when Ashwani reached the hospital, he found Rocket dead and post mortem had been already conducted without informing the family.
When Rocket's family arrived and examined the body, they saw bruises and stitches at the back of his head and his shoulders, blood near his mouth and his stomach was also seen sunken, conveyed the press release.
Questioning the motive of the police and the hospital authority in performing the post mortem examination in such haste without even informing them, the family members of the deceased maintained mat tell-tale signs of torture were seen on the body.
They even raised strong suspicion if the vital organs of the deceased were taken out and sold.
The Super Star Club and the family members then urged the Chief Minister to take up the matter with his Assam counterpart so that the alleged gruesome custodial torture and killing of Ph Rocket is promptly and thoroughly investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation.