Mookhep firing report

SHILLONG, MAR 14: The state government on Monday said it is in the process to amend the existing police manual, which has failed to subscribe the use of rubber bullet, following the Mookhep firing incident which killed at least two civilian in 2014.

“The police manual have to be amended because it doesn’t subscribe to the use of rubber bullet. In fact the police manual is very scary as it says – “bullet should not be wasted”,” chief minister Mukul Sangma told the Assembly on Monday.

He also said since the police manual is considered to be outdated, the process for amendment is already on. Sangma was replying to queries raised by members on the use of non-lethal weapons such as rubber bullets after he had also tabled the inquiry report probing into the firing incident at Mookhep in East Jaintia Hills District.

UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh while seeking clarification whether the East Jaintia Hills police are equipped with tear gas shells, PA system for crowd dispersal, rubber bullets said, “Now that the report has receive due consideration of the government, what are the measures that are first adopted to control a crowd to avoid firing, to be adopted to deal with similar situation in future.”

Highlighting on the measures taken up by government as an offshoot of the report, Sangma said, “We are aware of the special force – SF 10 where there are two tasks being assigned, one for counter insurgency operation and another to deal with this kind of situation.” The inquiry report which revealed that there was lack of police personnel (15-16) being deployed to tackle the aggressive and restless crowd of about 600, also stated, “The district SP had given ample warning to the police headquarters regarding shortage of force in the district, to which a reply from the police headquarters simply stating that the matter had been taken up with ADGP (Law and Order).

In view of the negative impact of the NGT ban on coal mining, the report also stated that the district administration was fully aware of the likely ramifications of this ban and the district police had written a number of letters to the police headquarters on the importance of gearing up the district with additional force. However, the report said the magistrate present after assessing the situation ordered for “firing in the air” to disburse the unruly crowd adding after firing by the police, chaos ensued and it was found that two people had lost their lives while eight of them were seriously injured.

The inquiry report however did not confirm on the alleged gunshots from the crowd. The opposition members also lambasted the failure of the state police to deploy adequate forces as requested by the district police. Stating that the Mookhep firing incident could have been avoided, HSPDP chief Ardent Basaiawmoit also asked whether the government is contemplating to take action against those concerned who failed to response to the letters.

On this, Sangma assured, “After having accepted the report and having placed it on the table of the house, necessary follow up action as required as per law will follow.” Opposition leader Donkupar Roy asked if the government learnt any lesson from the lapse leading to the incident Mookhep firing incident that claimed two lives to which the chief minister replied that advisories were sent to the district police units which is a regular exercise.-By Our Reporter