Padam Gurung death accidental, says judicial commission report

EOI, IPR, GANGTOK, NOVEMBER 2, 2023 : The inquiry report submitted by Justice Narendra Kumar Jain committee into the death of Padam Gurung, President, Student Representative Council of Sikkim Government College, Kamrang on the intervening night of June 27-28 this year has concluded that the death was an accidental one, Chief Secretary of Sikkim V. B. Pathak said in a news conference on Thursday in Gangtok. 

The commission recommended that a departmental inquiry should be initiated against Sub-Inspector Siddharth Subba, investigating officer in the case, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Dawa Lhamu Pakhrin, then Station House Officer Namchi Police Station. Pending the inquiry, both of them should be suspended immediately. 

A show cause notice should also be issued to then Superintendent of Police Namchi Manish Kumar Verma, demanding explanation for failure of his supervisory duty. An amount of Rs 25 lakh could be paid to the legal heirs of Padam Gurung as ex-gratia payment. 

Director General of Police Sikkim explained that the primary shortcomings in the handling of the case were procedural in nature. The involved officers had contravened section 174 of the CrPC and also the Sikkim Police Manual. 

These legal provisions outlined the prescribed procedures for conducting an inquest in such cases. He said the procedural deficiencies identified were unrelated to the cause of Padam Gurung’s demise. 

The reported cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning. The Chief Secretary said that the Police Department had been asked immediately to institute necessary action for taking up a case against a hotel owner under sections 188 and 336 of Juvenile Justice Act 2015.