Murder suspected but mystery over motive and cause of death
Morung Express News
Kohima/Dimapur | September 15
The dead body of a Nagaland Police officer, who was reported missing, was recovered on September 15. Neiphretuo Metsie-O, an inspector in the 5th NAP, was reported missing after he left his home in Kohima on September 7 to his place of posting in Pfutsero.
According to the Phek police, Metsie o’s body was discovered today by search parties between Zapami and Lasumi villages close to Zuketsa town. The Superintendent of Police, Phek, informed that the body was found in a highly decomposed state. Post-mortem was conducted at Kohima and the body handed over to the family, the SP said, while adding the family filed a missing complaint in Kohima after efforts to contact him failed.
The SP replied the Phek police was yet to receive any formal complaint with regard to the discovery of the body when asked which district police will conduct the investigation. The cause of death was also still to be ascertained, he added.
The Kohima police when contacted said that the North Police Station received a complaint on September 11 informing of a police officer missing since September 7. Search operations were subsequently mobilised together with civilian volunteers resulting in the body’s recovery today.
The PRO, Kohima police said that the body was found around 100 feet below the road between Zuketsa and Zapami. While stating that the Phek police and the Kohima police are coordinating in the investigation, the PRO Talisunep Imchen said, “We will be filing a ‘Zero FIR’ where inquiry will be done here and the findings will be sent to Pfutsero (Phek) Police."
He added that they are also in touch with the Ukhrul police, Manipur.
The whereabouts of the Mahindra Scorpio, which was driven by Metsie o the day he left home, has remained unknown. This has given rise to suspicion of car-theft as a possible motive.
According to independent sources, gunshot wound was found on the head. Neizolie Rüpreo, President, Northern Angami Youth Organisation (NAYO), who was part of the search teams, told The Morung Express that the body was found in a decomposed state with two bullets in the back of the head.
This however could not be officially confirmed with the Kohima police PRO maintaining the autopsy report would take two weeks to return. He declined to divulge any further information.
NAYO president, Rupreo said that over 300 civilian search volunteers from 31 Northern Angami villages, Zuketsa village youth and Chakhesang Youth forum was mobilised in addition to police personnel.
As per the reports, Metsieo was said to have left Kohima on the morning of September 7 from the Keziekie taxi stand in his Mahindra Scorpio. Two people – a man and a woman – reportedly asked for a lift. A third, said to be a police constable, was also picked up on the way. The constable reportedly got down at Zuketsa.
While reports of the Manipur police detaining one woman in Ukhrul in connection to the case started circulating on social, the Nagaland police maintained it was too early to name any suspects.
Born in 1981, Metsieo is survived by his wife and 4 children. His body was buried in Chiechama village today.
