NGOs demand independent probe into killing of ex-HNLC leader

“(We) demand that an independent probe be constituted to look into the killing of Cherishterfield Thangkhiew, to be headed by a High Court judge,” Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) leader Angela Rangad said in a statement here.

She said TUR does not accept killings or any kind of violence, whether by the state or non-state actors.

“Killings and violence destroy the fabric of day to day life and creates an atmosphere of fear for all. The law should work and be equal for all. Citizens are required to follow the law, but this holds true even more to the state and its government. These kinds of killings create chaos in the state and especially in the capital, Shillong,” Rangad said while requesting the citizens to be vigilant and not be misguided by forces who seek to destabilize for their own selfish interests.

She said that TUR will continue to stand against the authoritarian preventive detention laws like AFSPA, MMPO and UAPA, and demands that these laws be repealed. TUR also calls upon the people to stand up for the defence of human rights.

Condemning the police action, the Civil Society Women Organization (CSWO) also demanded a sincere expert independent inquiry in the killing of Cheristerfield Thangkhiew.

“The CSWO again strongly condemn the IED Blast in Laitumkhrah and if Cheristerfield Thangkhiew is involved in the IED Laitumkhrah Blast, then the police should have arrested him to find out the people behind this terror in the City of Shillong. Killing of Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, puts lots of doubt that the police are hiding evidence to cover up the people behind the blast,” CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said.

She said Chesterfield being a surrendered cadre he should have been issued notice if involved in any case and if he does not comply then the police can make arrests accordingly.

According to her, powers of investigation must be exercised in strict accordance with constitutional guarantees and legal provisions and cannot abuse their power given by the government.

She said that the sudden arrest of the two sons of Cheristerfield Thangkhiew is questionable and this is a clear violation of human rights, when they were not also issued any notice. They are not terrorists and they too have their rights.

The society cannot allow a police that is killing. Police should be ensuring security to the people, but the sudden raid at the house of surrendered Cheristerfield Thangkhiew is allowing others to dent the bridge between the people and the Police. If he had attacked with a knife, there were many police who were in the raid that night and they could have clearly overtaken him without shooting,” Kharshiing pointed out.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Peoples’ Human Rights Council (MPHRC) has taken a strong note on the alleged raid and encounter conducted by the joint police team of the East Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills Districts that resulted in the death of the former HNLC leader.

“Calling for a free, fair and impartial investigation into the unfortunate incident, the job of the police is to apprehend any suspected criminals and bring them to book. If the police contravene its boundaries and take the law in its own hands, the security of the citizens is seriously endangered. Merely because a person is perceived to be a suspect in the recent blast in the State, the Police can have no justification to deprive him of his life otherwise than that in accordance with the procedure established by law” said MPHRC.

“While extra-judicial or “encounter” killings have been a contested and contentious police procedure for decades we see that the steps taken by the joint police team in this case is unjustified and a deliberate attempt to infringe and crush the Supreme Court and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Guidelines” said MPHRC.

“We strongly call for a legal standard procedure for a thorough, effective and independent investigation since the right to life and equality before law are the basic human rights recognized and granted by the Constitution of India” concluded MPHRC.

By Our Reporter