An RTI activist was found murdered on Tuesday morning in Khliehriat, around 90 km southeast of Shillong in Meghalaya.
The body of 38-year-old Poipynhun Majaw was found in the morning near a bridge in Khliehriat, the district headquarters of East Jaintia Hills.
Majaw, who had recently exposed a large misappropriation of public funds in the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), was president of Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF).
He was last seen riding a motorcycle near the East Jaintia Hills deputy commissioner’s office on Monday night.
Confirming the murder, deputy inspector general of police (Eastern Range), A. R. Mawthoh said, “A wrench was found next to the body and preliminary inquest suggests that the victim was hit on the head leading to his death.”
“The motive for the murder is yet to be ascertained but we will leave no stone unturned to track down the person or people responsible for this heinous crime,” said Mawthoh who is supervising the investigation.
Majaw had recently through a RTI enquiry, exposed a large misappropriation of public funds in the JHADC and also revealed that cement companies in Jaintia Hills were mining without permission from the Council.
East Jaintia Hills is home to over a dozen cement companies operated by corporates from outside the State and from time to time there have been differences between them and the local populace over pollution and ignoring the interest of the locals among other issues.
Agnes Kharsh?ing, president of the Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) an influential social organisation in the state has condemned the murder. “We strongly condemn his killing and demand immediate arrests of those responsible,” she said.