"We have come to the conclusion that the five persons were involved for abetting the suicide of Sub-inspector P J Marbaniang," East Khasi Hills District S P (City) Vivek Syiem who heads the Special Investigation Team probing the case, said here.
The five arrested included a Meghalaya Civil Service officer who is the block development officer of Jirang - Grandwill Harly Passah, three Federation of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) leaders - Centerwell Daloi, Lawyer Syngkli and Shemphang Nongtri - and another person Coming Kharbani, he said.
In a 974-page chargesheet of the SIT which will be placed before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate tomorrow, the SIT has also included the statements of as many as 123 people from the area.
"The accused are people of influence in the area and it is a fact that (L) Marbaniang had detained 32 coal-laden trucks illegally plying in the area on the intervening night of January 23 and 24," Syiem said.
The accused had exerted pressure on the police officer to facilitate the movement of illegal movement of trucks from West Khasi Hills District to Sukurbira bordering Assam, forcing the officer to take his own life, Syiem said.