Ready to face probe to prove innocence’

ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Dec 2:

After finding themselves in the midst of controversy in connection with the death of former legislator, Ngurang Pinch, former minister Atum Welly and former MLA Tatar Kipa have strongly denied their involvement in the incident and asserted that they are ready to face SIT or CBI probe to prove their innocence.

Interacting with reporters on Saturday, Welly said that not only was Pinch a good friend but a brother with whom they shared strong family relations for years.

“We are also deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident in which we lost not only a good friend but a close family member. But instead of going to the media with such sensitive case, the Ngurang family should have first inquired with us personally or waited for the SIT to thoroughly examine the matter,” he added.

Quashing allegation levelled by late Pinch’s eldest daughter that it was “pre-planned political murder", Welly clarified that he doesn’t belong from the deceased constituency so the matter of political conspiracy doesn’t arise.

“Now that the case has been handed over to SIT, I would like to request the Ngurang family to cooperate with the investigation. At the same time, we urge the state government to do us a favour by handing the case to CBI for impartial inquiry,” Welly said.

Countering claims that the family was alerted late despite availability of mobile connectivity, Welly disclosed that their mobile phones had switched off due to contact with water during rafting.

‘The boat in which we travelled flipped twice during which our smartphones were soaked and switched off,’ he added.

Narrating the story, former MLA Tatar Kipa informed that the expedition team consisting of 21 members camped at a place called Hathi Mata for the night but he and Welly with two others were later shifted to the other side of the river bank.

 

“We came to know that Pinch is missing only the next morning when one of the members found his body floating in the river few meters from the camp. After that we immediately evacuated the body from Hathi Mata Camp to Ramghat by rubber boat and then informed the police as well as family members about the incident,” he said.

Also refuting the family’s allegation that he was the organizer of the expedition, Kipa claimed that the entire arrangement was done by late Pinch himself as he was managing and coordinating things telephonically.

“My name is being unnecessarily dragged as organizer. The decision to go rafting was proposed by Pinch himself which was planned during our meeting at Sanggo Resort on November 16 evening,” he said.

Informing that he has already assured the family and police of full cooperation, Kipa also said that he and other members have already given their statement at Balijan police station.

Another member of the expedition, Nabam Batey admitted that there was an argument between Pinch and Ngurang Abraham during their night halt at Hathi Matha. However he admitted ignorance regarding the reason as at the time most of the members were in drunken state.

 

Batey further informed that all the members had slept peacefully and came to know about his (Pinch) missing during the morning hours only.

‘We have full sympathy for the Ngurang family and are ready to support them in the ongoing SIT investigation,’ he added.

The trio also claimed that they never left the body abandoned on a bench like the family claims.

“We waited there for the police and his family members to arrive at the spot and left only after giving our statement to Balijan Sub Inspector and with his permission,” they asserted.

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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