SHILLONG, JUL 15: East Garo Hills Police have closed a year-old case after forensic tests confirmed that a body found last year was that of James R Sangma, who was wanted for the murder of a woman in Samgong.

Police said the Williamnagar Women PS received a complaint on July 18, 2025 alleging Sangma attacked a woman with a machete at around 4 PM in Samgong village.

A case was registered under Section 103 of the BNS.

Sangma fled and could not be traced despite search operations.

On July 29, 2025, an unidentified and highly decomposed male body was found in Dawa Matchakolgre.

Relatives identified the clothes, mobile phone and rosary recovered from the body as Sangma’s.

Police then registered another case under Sections 103(1)/238(a) BNS to investigate the death.

To establish identity, post-mortem samples and blood samples of Sangma’s siblings were sent to CFSL.

“The DNA report confirmed a biological relationship with the siblings, proving the deceased was Late James R. Sangma,” SP Pawar Swapnil Vasantrao said.

Sangma was also wanted in a separate POCSO case from 2024 registered at Williamnagar Women PS.

With the investigation completed, police have submitted the final report in the 2025 murder case to court.

The SP urged people not to spread rumors, stating the matter is sub judice and that the probe was conducted “fairly, impartially and scientifically.”