SHILLONG, APR 15: Kennedy Khongsit, accused of murdering 39-year-old Eilang Phawa at Nongrah, is now in eight days’ police custody after a local court granted the remand, East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem said Wednesday.

Police have also completed a crime scene reconstruction based on his admission.

Khongsit was also recently arrested for the murder of a 7-year-old boy.

The SP said investigators have made progress in the case. “We got 8 days custody for Kennedy Khongsit and in this case, we have done a substantial amount of interrogation and today we have done reconstruction on his admission to the crime,” he said.

During the reconstruction, Khongsit took the police team to the location where the murder occurred, with independent witnesses present.

“He has led the police team in the presence of independent witnesses of how he had committed the crime where he had taken her behind the house to a public toilet and slapped her on one concrete structure and disposed of the body in a sack. So, that is the gist of the reconstruction,” Syiem said.

The case is being handled by a special investigation team, which is expediting the probe.

“The SIT will be endeavouring to charge sheet the case as early as possible,” the SP added.

According to Syiem, the accused told police during initial questioning that he acted out of anger. “The motive is though he had befriended her but he got as per his initial interrogation and statement, he said he got irritated and in a reaction to his irritation caused by her he had actually slapped her. Seems that she was teasing him saying something which he didn’t like. Rage is the reason (behind the murder),” he said.

Khongsit has undergone a mental health evaluation. “His psychological assessment has been done and he is found to be mentally stable,” Syiem stated.

When asked about the accused’s background, the SP said inquiries are still underway. “Regarding his background, that is yet to be seen,” he said.