Students involved in alleged case of drug abuse released for lack of evidence

ROING, Dec 16: The students detained in the Roing Police Station for their alleged involvement in drugging of nine minor girls of Govt Middle School, Mayu in a picnic party on Dec 14 has been released yesterday late at night. The students detained for the interrogation were Diganto Borah and Bikash Lama studying in Class X and Class VII respectively.

Earlier during the day, nine students suspected to be involved in the incident were released after interrogation on personal bond, reports SI Diyum.

“The investigation so far has not been able to produce satisfactory credible evidence against the detainees. The students are under age and since there is no separate provision for detention of minors, they have been released on PR bond”, informed J Molo, Officer-in-charge of Roing police station.

The police further informed that they came to know about the Dec 14 incident the next day in the morning when one of the relatives of the victim filed an FIR, dated 15/12/2009. The FIR named seven students along with Diganto Bora and Bikash Lama for their suspected involvement in food poisoning and drugging the girls. Appeal was made to investigate the case and to initiate necessary action.

Accordingly, investigation was carried on two minor girls aged 14 and 15 who were produced in the police station by the parents and later referred for medical examination. The medical report however has not been able to confirm the type of substance used as drug to intoxicate the girls. One of the girl reported intoxication and had complained of dizziness.

With the suspects claiming innocence and lack of credible evidence even after medical examination of the girls, the police are yet to achieve any breakthrough in the case. What they however missed was the evidence that could have been collected upon examining the other seven girls that was admitted in the medical on the same day of the Dec 14 incident late at night for drug intoxication. The police confirms that they have no medical report of the remaining girls and were not referred in the case.

Considering the need to gather evidence for preventing further use of fatal drugs among students, OC Molo assured to carry on the investigation on other seven girls whose physical condition on the night was not reported. It was relied that the medical report of the remaining seven girls must also be produced to carry forward the investigation.

The Dec 14 picnic episode has now raised concern on the people since this is the first such case of drug abuse involving minor students who were drugged for motive not known. The All Idu Mishmi Students Union (AIMSU) has expressed regret and vowed to investigate on its own.

“It pains to know that the nine of the girl victims were from local tribal community. What is more regrettable is that the incident involved three local tribal boys”, said Tone Mickrow, Secretary AIMSU.