SIT to investigate death of polling official

The Arunachal Pradesh government has handed over the case of Mathew Dabi, who mysteriously died on poll duty, to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police, said Chief Secretary Ramesh Negi.

Dabi, an assistant teacher, went missing from Siine village under Pangin Assembly constituency on April 9 where he was deputed as a polling official.
The police recovered his body from a deep gorge near Siine village on April 17, eight days later.

"Forensic report will be required for expediting the investigation to unearth the truth behind the death of Dabi," Negi said to a delegation of Galo Welfare Society (GWS), Confederation of Service Association of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP), Arunachal Pradesh Elementary Teachers' Association (APETA) and Dabi's wife who called on him yesterday, official sources said here today.

The delegation urged the Chief Secretary for immediate appointment of Dabi's wife as a teacher on compassionate ground and also requested the CS and Home Commissioner to speed up inquiry into the unnatural death case of Dabi.

Meanwhile, the All Arunachal Pradesh Elementary Teachers Association (APETA) in a communique said it had requested for induction of Dabi's wife as an assistant teacher on compassionate ground with immediate effect.

In its letter submitted to the CS, it said, she was facing acute difficulty in continuing her children's education as well as household expenses

Seeking immediate action, APETA warned of further agitation if their demand was not fulfilled.