Shillong: Netnobiweit Khongsdoh is still hunting for justice. Three months after his son Trophimos Khongmawloh died, the grieving father swatted away claims that his son killed himself by swallowing broken glass. He insists his son died from a beating delivered by the Rangbah Shnong of Pynter village and the local Village Defence Party.
The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission refused to hear the complaint. They claimed the matter falls outside their jurisdiction because the suspects are private citizens. Khongsdoh thinks that ruling is dead wrong. He pointed out that the VDP operates under a state-recognized framework. He also wants to know why the Commission ignored the role of the Pynter Sub-Centre in the events of April 7. That night, villagers hauled Trophimos to the village Dorbar Hall before dragging him to the health facility. Witnesses claimed his head wound looked minor. Yet, the VDP returned his body home on the morning of April 8.
The village initially claimed Trophimos swallowed window shards after causing a disturbance. A video surfaced a month later showing a man getting a brutal beating. Khongsdoh recognized his son in the footage and filed a report at the Sadar Police Station. Authorities moved the case to Pynursla and exhumed the body on May 18 for an autopsy.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed the preliminary report found "injury marks on the body" but labeled them non-fatal. While the examiner found sharp objects in the stomach, the police are still waiting on forensic results from the Shillong laboratory. Khongsdoh plans to sit tight until the final report arrives. He said, "I will wait for the final forensic findings before deciding on his next legal course of action."
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