CID to probe Meghalaya maid murder

Shillong, April 10: Meghalaya police has handed over the Rinehskham Kharsahnoh murder case to the state CID.

Two cases of “unnatural death” and “murder” were registered at the Nongthymmai police station under Section 320 of the Indian Penal Code.

Rinehskham was found dead on March 7 at her residence. She lived at the former director general of police W.R. Marbaniang’s wife’s ancestral house at Nongthymmai here.

The house had belonged to Marbaniang’s late mother-in-law B.C. Thomas, for whom Rinehskham had worked before her demise.

Rinehskham used to earn her living by working as a domestic help at several houses in the area.

Though the police said Rinehskham had committed suicide by slitting her throat, her mother Shinti Kharsahnoh was not convinced and suspected foul play.

Shinti, who used to live in the same house with Rinehskham, has said she wants a forensic examination of her daughter’s body “to unearth the truth.”

Several NGOs, including the Meghalaya Domestic Workers Movement and other women’s organisations of the state have also demanded a proper investigation into the incident.

Meghalaya inspector-general of police B.L. Buam told newspersons today that the investigation has already begun.

He said the CID have already started the investigation. However, he remained tightlipped regarding the details. “If we reveal any information, it will hamper investigations. We prefer not to say anything now,” Buam said.

Asked why the case had not been handed over to the CBI as stated by chief minister D.D. Lapang recently, the police official said the police department was preparing a proposal for to hand over the case to the CBI.