‘CBI inquiry into firing’

SHILLONG, OCT 1: Ten Jaintia hills based ngos on Wednesday met Meghalaya home minister Roshan Warjri and demanded that the Meghalaya government hand over the inquiry into firing incident in East Jaintia hills that killed two people to the CBI and also put all the  officials on duty under suspension to ensure a free and fair investigation.

Warjri, however, told the delegation that the government has decided to wait till the magisterial inquiry is completed.

Two civilians were shot dead when a firing incident took place at Mookhep village in East Jaintia hills district during the recent economic blockade called by the MIPRL to protest the ban on coal mining by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

“We demand the inquiry to be immediately handed over to the CBI for impartial and fair investigation into the incident to ensure that justice is delivered to the victims,” Meghalaya People United Federation (MPUF) president Dapoiwanmi Laloo told reporters after the meeting.

According to Laloo, the ngos have no faith in the present inquiry instituted by state government.

“We also demanded that officials, including police personnel and magistrates, present at the incident scene should be immediately suspended to ensure that the investigation process is not influenced,” Laloo said adding “The government should also to an extend terminate these officials, if they are found guilty.”

Terming the incident as just another barbaric act of the police, Laloo said, “We cannot accept the claims made by the police that the firing was in self defend.” Stating that police are not authorized to kill innocent, he said, “We also want the government to take stern action against the person who is responsible in issuing the shooting order.”

According to Laloo, the incident could have been avoided if the police and district administration would have used other methods of controlling the mob such as lathi charge, rubber bullets and others.  “But this incident was a direct shooting act and we condemned it strongly,” he added.

Meanwhile, the ngos have expressed grave disappointment at  the failure of the home minister to give any assurance on the matter.

“We express our disappointment at  the failure of the Home Minister to give any kind of assurance on the issue since the public of the district are in a dilemma. She only informed that the government will wait for the report of the magisterial inquiry,” Laloo said.

Laloo said the ngos decided to wait till October 30, when the report would be submitted to the government.

“We will wait but if the report of the magisterial inquiry is found not to be satisfactory, we will decide on our future course of action,” RI Jaintia Youth Federation (RJYF) president R Rymbai said.

Though the government had extended compensation relief to the deceased family, Rymbai said, “We want the government to ensure that the lives of the people do  not end by just by giving Rs 3 lakhs.”- By Our Reporter