IMPHAL, May 30: The body of a L Dhiren who reportedly died in the custody of Assam Rifles in Jiribam was handed over to his family after post-mortem at JNIMS hospital today.
It may be recalled here that Leitanthem Dhiren alias Ibochou was brought to the Jiribam CHC by personnel of 22 Assam Rifles on May 28.
While CHC staff says the Mayang Imphal resident was brought dead, a defence press-note refutes the allegation.
Family sources said, Dhiren had managed to escape unhurt when a police commando team chased and opened fire on him in 2008 in connection with a case wherein he served a demand note for a particular militant group to a resident at Mayang Imphal. After that he fled home and took a second wife with whom he lived at Terakhongsangbi by taking up the business of fish farming.
On May 21, the couple had gone to Jiribam to consult a Meitei physician after Dhiren suddenly fell sick with his belly swelling. He suffered the unknown illness when he tried to catch fish in a field at Tera Khongsangbi, they said.
It is also said that he left Hotel Joyraj at Jiribam on May 27 to consult the physician and on his way Dhiren was reportedly nabbed by some motorcycles borne persons suspected to be AR personnel from Jiribam Lamkhai Bazaar.
Police sources said the personnel of 22 AR along with two women police constables from Jiribam Police Station picked up Dhiren’s wife from the hotel later on that day but she was brought back by the security personnel to the hotel late night the same day.
According to unofficial sources, the post mortem report of Dhiren reflected some defects inside his brain and that samples would be sent to the Kolkata Forensic Science Laboratory for further investigation.