Naharlagun: The Arunachal Pradesh Police arrested five persons in connection with Techi Meena Lishi death case. Meena, who was serving as Accounts and Finance Secretary in Miss Arunachal Organisation, was found dead inside an SUV on November 5, near the Karsinga block point around 25 km from Itanagar. She was seven months pregnant.
The main accused behind the murder is Meena's husband and son of former legislator Lishi Legi, Roni Lishi. He was arrested on November 10.
Addressing the media, Chukhu Apa, the Inspector General of Police (IGP, Law & Order) informed that the Tirap police arrested three co-accused, namely, Kapwang Letey Lowang (40), who is a former NSCN (U) operative, Taney Khoiyang (33), and Damriet Khoiyang (29) from Tirap district on November 13.
Apa also informed that a special investigation team was formed to investigate the case. The team comprised ICR SP Jimmy Chiram, Naharlagun SDPO Rike Kamsi, Banderdewa PS OC Inspector Gocham Tassa, IO Inspector Minli Geyi and Inspector Khiksi Yangfo, along with Tirap SP Kardak Riba and Khonsa PS OC Inspector Wangoi Kamhua.
The driver of the SUV, Dathang Suyang confessed after sustained interrogation that the main accused of the case is Roni Lishi. Roni had asked the driver to kill Meena, for which Roni was going to pay him Rs 10 lakhs. It is learnt that Roni was planning to kill his wife, Meena for the last couple of months. His old friend, Kapwang Letey Lowang arranged the contract killers.
Apa said that "Accordingly, on the evening of October 27, three people – Dathang Suyang, Kapwang Letey Lowang and Taney Khoiyang – arrived from Khonsa and they stayed at Hotel Su Pinsa. On October 28, Roni Lishi arrived at the hotel and finalised the plan to kill his wife with Kapwang. It was planned that Dathang Suyang would execute the murder and stage it as an accident. Roni paid Rs 5 lakhs in advance to them in two instalments of Rs 3 lakhs and Rs 2 lakhs."
Kapwang and Taney left for Khonsa on October 30, whereas Dathang stayed back and Roni employed him as Meena's driver.
On November 2, the driver requested the main accused, Roni to arrange for a partner as he felt he would be unable to murder Meena by himself. Roni again consulted his old friend, Kapwang, who brought in Damriet Khoiyang, who was working as a driver in Doimukh. On the morning of November 4, Roni and the driver did a recce of the area, which was somewhere near the block point in Karsingsa, where they planned to execute the murder. They also finalised all the details the same day.
The interrogation has also revealed that Damriet Khoiyang executed the crime with a hammer.
Speaking about how the murder was executed on the final day, that is, November 5, Apa said, "On the morning of November 5, Roni asked Meena to proceed to Karsingsa on the pretext of discussing their land compensation case in Karsingsa. As planned, Dathang on the way picked up Damriet from Bage Tinali. Damriet sat on the backseat of the vehicle. As soon as they crossed the mandir (waste dumping zone), Damriet started assaulting Meena with the hammer and killed her. After killing her, Damriet got down at the block point and Dathang drove the vehicle a little further and steered the vehicle to the left side of the road about 2 to 3 metres, in order to make it appear as an accident."
Meanwhile, police have also seized four mobile phones and cash from the possession of the driver, Dathang Suyang
Further investigation of the case is on as the police are trying to collect more evidence.