Five arrested including owner, after man dies with injury marks at Nagaland Rehab Centre

DIMAPUR, November 28 – Five individuals, including the owner of a rehabilitation centre in Nagaland’s Chumoukedima district, have been arrested following the suspicious death of a 46-year-old man reportedly brought from the facility.

The arrests were made after a mandatory inquest revealed multiple visible injuries on the body of the deceased, prompting police to open a full-scale investigation into a suspected case of physical assault.

The Incident

The case began on Wednesday, around 3:00 pm, when the Diphuphar police station received a call from Referral Hospital reporting that a deceased individual had been brought in from a rehabilitation centre located in Chekiye.

The deceased has been identified as Pradeep Basumatary (46), a resident of Aojan, Ganeshpuri, Urimghat in Assam’s Golaghat district.

Upon reaching the hospital, police were informed that Basumatary was declared dead on arrival. Following this, police registered a suo motu (on its own motion) First Information Report (FIR).

A mandatory inquest revealed strong evidence of trauma:

• Bruises on both lower limbs and buttocks.
• Marks on the legs, left cheek, and left hand.

Police stated that these findings “raise a strong suspicion that Basumatary was physically assaulted prior to his death” by blunt-force trauma. The body has been shifted to Dimapur District Hospital for a post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Arrests and Ongoing Investigation

Following the initial findings, police swiftly took five people into custody: four individuals directly involved in the incident and the owner of the rehabilitation centre.

The Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, confirmed that the case is being pursued with “utmost seriousness” and that strict action will follow based on the investigation’s outcome.

Dimapur Police stated that a detailed investigation is currently underway, with all forensic, technical, and procedural steps being “meticulously documented to ensure accountability and swift justice.”

The incident has also triggered a parallel inquiry into the rehabilitation centre’s operations.

Police will now examine:

• Its licensing status.
• Overall compliance with operational regulations.
• The adequacy of in-house medical and mental health facilities.

The police are committed to bringing the investigation to a rapid conclusion and holding those responsible accountable.