Guwahati, 8th November: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR related to the abduction case of Jibon Kemprai, the brother of former North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) member Mohendro Kemprai. This move has sparked speculation about potential repercussions for NCHAC CEM Debolal Gorlosa.
The CBI’s involvement in the case follows a directive from the Gauhati High Court, which ordered the central probe agency to take over the investigation into the kidnapping of Jibon Kemprai. This incident occurred seven years ago on January 27, 2016.
Notably, Debolal Gorlosa has been implicated as the prime suspect behind the abduction of Jibon Kemprai.
The CBI has registered the case under sections 365, 506, and 34 of the IPC, which pertain to abduction and criminal intimidation. The CBI’s FIR is based on the Gauhati High Court’s order from October 12, 2023, related to an FIR initially filed on January 28, 2016. The 2016 FIR, filed at the Diyungmukh police station in Dima Hasao district, stated that Jibon Kemprai’s kidnapping aimed to prevent Mohendro Kemprai from attending an emergent session of the NC Hills Autonomous Council, Haflong, scheduled for January 29, 2016. This session was rumored to include a “no-confidence motion” against the then-ruling party.
According to Mohendro Kemprai’s FIR regarding his brother’s kidnapping, Jibon Kemprai was taken from his residence in Jongshorhadi village under Hamri Constituency by unidentified individuals around 9:30 pm on January 27, 2016. The kidnappers allegedly threatened the complainant, Mohendro Kemprai, stating that he should refrain from attending the NC Hills Autonomous Council’s emergent session, warning of dire consequences if he participated.
It has been alleged that Debolal Gorlosa contacted Mohendro Kemprai and advised him not to vote in the no-confidence motion at the NCHAC Council just days before Jibon Kemprai’s abduction.
Notably, Jibon Kemprai has remained missing since the fateful night of January 27, 2016.
Initial police investigations into the case did not make significant progress. Subsequently, Jibon Kemprai’s wife, Jaisodi Thaosen, filed a writ petition with the Gauhati High Court, requesting a CBI probe into the case.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the SP of Dima Hasao district also investigated the case but made limited headway, including a few arrests and eyewitness statements. The SIT did not question Debolal Gorlosa, who allegedly issued the threat to the victim’s brother, Mohendro Kemprai, before the kidnapping.
Furthermore, six individuals arrested in connection with the abduction were released on bail, and their wives were provided with government jobs in the council.
The Gauhati High Court has suggested that the case should be handed over to the CBI for investigation, acknowledging the potential political dimension of the case. This case is of significance because it has been explicitly stated by Mohendra Kemprai that his brother’s abduction was aimed at preventing his participation in crucial sessions of the NCHAC council, specifically the “no-confidence” motion against the ruling party. In 2016, Mohendro Kemprai served as the Dima Hasao district president of the Congress party.
This development places current NCHAC CEM Debolal Gorlosa under scrutiny, as many anticipate that the CBI’s investigation may lead to inquiries involving Gorlosa.