Candlelight Vigil in Pasighat Demands Accountability for Olip Mukherjee’s Death
A solemn candlelight procession took place on August 4, traversing from the D. Ering Govt. Hr. Secondary School ground to Gandhi Chowk, Pasighat’s central market, to seek justice for Olip Mukherjee. Mukherjee died under suspicious circumstances at the Serene Life Foundation Drug Rehab Centre in Gumin Nagar on July 19, allegedly due to assault by inmates and center staff.
The procession, organized by Mukherjee’s family, friends, and supporters, was officially sanctioned by local authorities. Participants rallied for justice and demanded the arrest of all individuals implicated in Mukherjee’s death, including members of the Women Against Social Evils (WASE).
Protesters condemned WASE, accusing them of illegal actions and collusion with the rehab center. They alleged that WASE President Yamik Dulom Darang had admitted Mukherjee to the rehab center without proper verification of his drug use, a claim contested by Mukherjee’s family, who insisted that he had no history of drug addiction.
Mukherjee’s mother, Smty Mohimang Litin, refuted WASE’s allegations, questioning the validity of their claims and pointing out previous accusations against WASE members for extorting money from local traders. She also revealed discrepancies, including forged signatures on Mukherjee’s rehab admission and misleading communication purportedly made by WASE.
The procession emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation into WASE’s role in Mukherjee’s death and called for accountability. Protesters urged the police to thoroughly investigate potential collusion between WASE and the rehab center and to hold WASE responsible for any involvement in the alleged murder. They stressed that justice for Mukherjee could not be fully realized without addressing these concerns.
