SHILLONG: The Superintendent of Police for East Khasi Hills, Vivek Syiem, informed reporters today that the police have received the post-mortem report regarding the death of Trophimos Khongmawloh, a young man from Pynter village. However, the SP noted that this initial post-mortem report is incomplete.
According to SP Syiem, the report highlights the presence of external injuries on the deceased’s body, but specifies that these were non-fatal and not severe enough to have caused his death.
Furthermore, the autopsy revealed the presence of sharp objects inside Khongmawloh’s stomach, suggesting he might have consumed glass. To clear the ambiguity surrounding the exact cause of death, the police are currently awaiting the findings of a toxicology report and a sociological report, which are expected to be available within a week.
This development follows the recent exhumation of Trophimos Khongmawloh’s body on May 18.
The procedure was carried out under the supervision of the Pynursla Sub-Division Magistrate, police authorities, and medical doctors to conduct the autopsy and uncover the truth. The exhumation was prompted by serious allegations that the youth was beaten to death by the village headman (Rangbah Shnong) and members of the Village Defence Party (VDP) of Pynter village back on April 7.
The victim’s father, Nethurbirt Khongsdoh, lodged a formal First Information Report (FIR) at the Sadar Police Station against the headman, Fullmoon Khongdon, and VDP members, accusing them of brutally assaulting his son inside the community hall (iing dorbar shnong), leading to his death.
According to the complaint filed on May 5, 2026, the father stated that the incident took place on April 7, 2026. He stated that the VDP members brought his son’s body back to his house on the morning of April 8, wrapped inside a gunny sack.
Although the village authorities claimed that Trophimos died because he swallowed glass, and the headman strictly prohibited anyone from looking at the body—raising deep suspicions during the burial on April 9—the father has strongly refuted the village’s version of events.
He confirmed that his suspicions were validated after discovering a video that clearly shows his son being mercilessly beaten, which ultimately cost him his life.
Addressing the delay in filing the police complaint, Khongsdoh explained that the family only recently managed to secure the hidden video footage.
He has urgently appealed to the law enforcement authorities to take stringent legal action against those involved so that his son receives proper justice.
