Northeast Desk, 5th August: A peaceful candlelight procession was held on the evening of August 4, from the D. Ering Govt. Hr. Secondary School ground to Gandhi Chowk, Pasighat’s main market, to demand justice for the late Olip Mukherjee. Mukherjee was allegedly beaten to death by inmates and the management of the Serene Life Foundation Drug Rehab Centre in Gumin Nagar on July 19.
Organized by Mukherjee’s family, well-wishers, and friends, the procession received proper permission from the district administration. Participants called for justice and urged the police to arrest all those involved, including members of the Women Against Social Evils (WASE).
Protestors voiced strong condemnation against WASE, accusing them of acting outside the law and colluding with the rehab center. They criticized WASE President Yamik Dulom Darang for allegedly delivering Mukherjee to the rehab center without proper verification. The family and friends of Mukherjee asserted that he was not known to use drugs, questioning the validity of the claims made by WASE.
Mukherjee’s mother, Smty Mohimang Litin, challenged WASE’s accusations, stating her son had no history of drug use. She criticized WASE for assuming her son was a drug user without proper evidence and highlighted previous issues with WASE members extorting money from orange buyers, causing financial loss to local traders.
Further complicating the situation, it was revealed that the signature on Mukherjee’s rehab admission was forged, and the call supposedly made by the WASE president to inform Mukherjee’s mother was actually made by a male, contradicting WASE’s statements.
Participants in the candlelight march called for WASE to be held accountable in the case, urging a thorough police investigation to uncover any possible collusion between WASE and the rehab center. They emphasized the need for public pressure to ensure a complete and unbiased investigation.
Relatives of Mukherjee and other protestors strongly insisted that WASE should be booked for abetting murder, asserting that without addressing WASE’s involvement, justice for Mukherjee would not be achieved.
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