Armyman ‘rapes, kills’ cop’s wife in Sikkim

In his letter to the Defence Minister and the PM, a copy of which is with the Express, Chamling said: ‘‘The people of my state are both anguished and agitated. The state has witnessed protest marches where hundreds of civilians have expressed their sentiments, condemning this incident and asking for stern action.’’ A police team apprehended Garai from his house in Midnapore. ‘‘The Sikkim police approached the Army with information of a missing person on January 4. On January 6, an Army official saw blood stains near the bungalow of the Commanding officer. Indira Sharma’s body was subsequently discovered in a manhole,’’ an official source from the Army said.

Sikkim Resident Commissioner S.C. Gupta said the Defence Minister has said he would, in addition to police investigations, initiate a court martial against the accused. This information could not be confirmed. The Army has set up a Court of Inquiry.

Sources in Chamling’s entourage said parallels were being drawn with the Manorama Devi case in Manipur.

Chamling’s letter said that the first post-mortem on Indira’s body indicated death by repeated blows from a blunt instrument. The body was also burnt before before being stuffed into the manhole.

‘‘Incalculable damage to Army’s image that such incidents cause, should be a matter of great concern,’’ said Chamling in the letter. Indira used to run a shop near the Army camp. On the day of the incident, Garai went to her and told her he could get her provisions from Army canteen at cheaper rates. When she followed him, he allegedly raped and then murdered her.