One Year On, Justice Eludes Singpho Teen Gamrin Maket: TADCDC Demands CBI Probe

Mithun Baruah

The gruesome murder of 18-year-old Gamrin Maket, a promising youth from the indigenous Singpho community, continues to haunt the residents of Margherita in Assam’s Tinsukia district. One year after the chilling incident on July 31, 2024, at St. Paul School in Udaipur under the jurisdiction of Lekhapani Police Station, justice remains elusive. This has prompted the Tirap Autonomous District Council Demand Committee (TADCDC) to escalate their demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into what they describe as a “cold-blooded murder.”

Gamrin Maket, the only son of farmers Chantret Maket and Jangko Maket from Khumchai Namo Gaon, was a Class 10 student at St. Paul School. On the fateful morning of August 1, 2024, his body was discovered hanging on the school verandah, with his hands and legs bound—an alarming scene that pointed unmistakably to foul play.

Despite the horrific nature of the crime, the investigation has been marred by delays, inconsistencies, and allegations of interference, leaving the Singpho community and Gamrin’s grieving parents in despair.

Pallab Shyam Wailung, General Secretary and spokesperson of the TADCDC, has been at the forefront of the fight for justice. “This was no suicide. It was a brutal, premeditated murder of a bright young man with a promising future. Gamrin’s hands and legs were tied, yet the post-mortem report shockingly claimed he took his own life. This is a blatant cover-up, and we suspect influential forces are working to dilute the case,” Wailung said.

The murder sparked widespread outrage in Margherita, with local organizations staging protests, burning tires, and blocking National Highway 315 to demand accountability. Several organisations rallied together, amplifying the call for a thorough investigation. Yet despite these efforts, the case has languished—with no arrests or significant progress reported.

Wailung revealed that the TADCDC had submitted a memorandum to Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, urging a high-level inquiry led by a retired Gauhati High Court judge. The committee also demanded a forensic re-examination of Gamrin’s body, citing doubts about the initial post-mortem report, and called for compensation of ₹1 crore for the victim’s family. Additionally, they emphasized the need to invoke provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, to address systemic failures in protecting tribal communities.

“The police have failed to register atrocity cases, depriving tribal families of their rights,” Wailung said. “One year has passed, and Gamrin’s parents are still waiting for justice. The Singpho community across Assam and Arunachal Pradesh stands united in this fight.”

The TADCDC has pointed to a troubling history of unresolved crimes against the tribal community in Margherita. Wailung referenced the brutal murder of TADCDC activist Prasanna Turung and his wife Komai Turung on April 8, 2007, at their residence in APO Colony, Margherita. The couple, both from the Scheduled Tribe community, were killed, and their bodies remain unrecovered. No justice has been served in that case either, highlighting a pattern of neglect and impunity.

“This is not an isolated incident,” Wailung said. “The authorities have repeatedly failed to deliver justice to tribal victims. Gamrin Maket’s murder is a stark reminder that the system continues to betray the most vulnerable.”

A case (No. 0038/24) was registered at Lekhapani Police Station under Sections 61(1), 103(1), 238, and 106, as well as Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, following the incident. However, the investigation has been criticized for its lack of progress. The post-mortem report, which concluded that Gamrin’s death was a suicide, has been widely disputed by the family and community, who point to the physical evidence of tied limbs as proof of murder.

“There are clear signs of interference,” Wailung alleged. “The post-mortem report is dubious, and no forensic tests have been conducted to uncover the truth. We demand a CBI inquiry to expose those responsible and ensure they face stringent punishment.”

The Singpho community, known for its rich cultural heritage and agrarian traditions in Margherita, Tinsukia, and Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district, is reeling from the loss of one of its brightest young members.

Gamrin’s parents, Chantret and Jangko Maket, are devastated—clinging to hope that justice will prevail under the leadership of Chief Minister Sarma, whom Wailung described as a “dynamic leader” capable of ensuring accountability.

The TADCDC has vowed to intensify its protests if the government fails to act. “We will not rest until the culprits are brought to justice and Gamrin’s family receives the closure they deserve,” Wailung said. “The state must send a clear message that such heinous crimes against tribal communities will not be tolerated.”

As the first anniversary of Gamrin Maket’s murder approaches, the community and its allies are rallying for a renewed push for justice—hoping that a CBI inquiry will finally uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable for the untimely death of a promising youth.

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