ITANAGAR: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Dibrugarh, Assam, to accelerate the investigation into the death of a native of Ngaitong in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Lokhi Wangsu was allegedly fatally shot by personnel of the Assam Forest Battalion in the Towang reserved forest area on September 18, 2023, while searching for his lost domestic cow.
The NHRC has mandated the submission of an updated status report on the case within eight weeks.
According to the NHRC, an updated status report was received from the SP in February, indicating that the Investigating Officer (IO) had collected the post-mortem report and seized evidence.
However, reports such as the ballistic report and viscera report are still awaited from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Assam.
The NHRC noted that investigations in both filed FIRs were underway by the local police.
In an earlier report submitted on November 16, 2023, the Dibrugarh SP informed the commission that two FIRs had been registered concerning the incident, based on information provided by the range forest officer of Joypur and a complaint from the deceased’s father.
Expressing concern over the indifferent attitude of Assam’s Environment & Forest Additional Chief Secretary and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest to the directive issued by the NHRC, the commission has issued another directive.
The NHRC highlighted that despite directions and reminders, no report had been received from the forest department, and it takes the matter seriously.
The NHRC has stated that coercive action under section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 may be initiated against officials for non-responsiveness to the commission’s directions.
It had previously issued a reminder to them in December last year regarding the case.
The alleged killing of Wangsu sparked widespread protests in Arunachal Pradesh in 2023, with civil organizations and student bodies demanding justice.
Previously, Wangsu’s father had accused Assam Forest officials of torturing his son.
In contrast, Assam Forest officials have accused villagers of being timber smugglers who trespassed into a forest reserve area under Assam’s jurisdiction.
