DIPHU, Aug 28 - The Karbi Students� Association (Simeon Rongphar faction) staged a demonstration at Semson Sing Ingti Memorial Park in Diphu demanding a high-level investigation into the death of a 50-year-old Karbi woman Bina Terangpi.
It has been alleged that the body of Terangpi bore an injury mark on her skull. The cause of death got murkier when she was first declared COVID-19 positive, but later was reported as negative, as stated in the death certificate issued by the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.
The body was released by the GMCH authority 36 hours after her death. Her remains were taken to the Bhutnath cremation ground in Guwahati by the Health authorities but it was brought back on the persistence of her relatives and social organisations of Karbi Anglong.
Later, the GMCH authority sought a written permission from the Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner to take the body. Sources said the Deputy Commissioner�s office denied that it has any such rule.
Finally, the family members got custody of the body on August 21 and it was brought to Diphu, and cremated on August 21 at the Diphu cremation ground.
The deceased woman�s family had lodged an FIR against the doctors in Bhangagarh Police Station in Guwahati on August 20.
KSA president Simeon Rongphar told reporters at Diphu that the nature of the injury on her head arouses suspicion that she was probably killed. �Bina Terangpi was a pneumonia patient. She became critically ill and was admitted to Diphu Medical College and Hospital where she was declared COVID-19 positive, and referred to GMCH. From August 10, no family member was allowed to visit her, and on August 18, they informed her relatives that she is no more.
�On August 19, the GMCH reported that she was COVID-19 negative. If she was COVID negative, why didn�t the authorities allow the family members to visit her? We want an answer from the State government, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang and other competent authorities. Family members of the deceased told us that Bina Terangpi�s skull was split. Why? We have not received the post-mortem report yet, but the incident has led to suspicion in our minds. The death may be due to murder,� Rongphar said.
