Techi Meena Lishi murder case: Bail of accused duo rejected

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Papumapre district Session Court at Yupia on Monday rejected the bail petitions of Kapwang Letey Lowang (40) and Taney Khoiyang (33) — the accused in the murder of Techi Meena Lishi and her seven months unborn baby — on November 5, 2020.

The bail petitions for the accused persons were filed by their advocates. The bail petitions were rejected on the ground that the case is too sensitive and somewhere linked to NSCN.

After the hearing, Public Prosecutor Manoj Saikia informed the media, "As both the accused are linked with underground elements, the Court has rejected the bail," said Saikia, adding that the bail order copy has not been provided to the Court so far as it is in the lower Court.

Stating that the charge sheet has not been filed yet, he added that it will take time as investigation is in process. Referring to the Investigating Officer (IO), he added that the case is very sensitive.

Earlier during the day, people from all walks of life carrying placards gathered outside the Court and staged a protest condemning the bail petitions filed for the accused. Demanding rejection of the bail petitions, they demanded exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of the crime.

The president of 'United Leil Tara Youth Foundation' (ULTYF), Tana Sushil Tara has lauded the Sessions Court's decision not to grant bail to the accused. Tara also said that it is a very sensitive case involving high-profile persons.

Pointing out that Lishi Legi — the father of prime accused Leshi Roni — is a former legislator and Minister.

He called for steps to be taken by the authorities concerned to shield the details of the case which is with the police team. "Many links still remain to be fished out in the case," he said, while being hopeful that justice will be delivered to the deceased and members of the bereaved family.

Meanwhile, stating that despite demands by various organizations the State government has not yet handed over the case to the 'Fast Track Court', the chairman of 'Save Arunachal Save Indigenous' (SASI), Debia Muj said, "We appeal to the State government to immediately issue an order for handing over this case to the 'Fast Track Court'. It will help to solve the case within a year and thus deliver justice to the deceased and her family members." He further demanded, "The guilty should be given capital punishment."

Techi Meena Lishi and her seven-month unborn was ghastly murdered in broad daylight at Karsingsa on November 5, 2020. The accused presented the murder as a 'car accident' which was later decoded by the State police as 'pre -planned murder'.

Meena, who was seven-months pregnant, was found dead inside a Toyota Innova car near the Karsingsa block point -- around 25km from the capital city -- on November 5 itself.

The murder shocked the entire State and the incident triggered a series of protests demanding justice to the victims.

Police have arrested Kapwang Letey Lowang (40), Damriat Khoyang (29) — the main assailant who murdered Meena with a hammer — Datang Suyang (26), who was recruited as the driver of the car, Taney Khoiyang (33), and Lishi Roni (37). On November 24, 2020, Chumi Taya (26) and Vijay Biswas (30) were also arrested after police found their involvement in the murder case.

All the accused are booked under Section 302/120B/201 IPC by the police and are currently at Jully Central Jail in Itanagar.

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