TURA, MAY 27: Ngos led by Garo Students Union (GSU)and the North East Students Organisation (NESO) rejected Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma’s assurance to initiate free and fair probe into the custodial death of Balsan Marak.
Despite the appeal of the chief minister not to agitate the ngos held a public meeting at Chandmari playground around 3:30 pm on Tuesday. At least 1000 people, mostly youths, attended the meeting to show their solidarity on the custodial death.
The ngos have demanded Rs. 50 lakh compensation for the bereaved family and a request for an independent medical post mortem to ascertain the circumstances that led to the death of Balsan Marak.
The ngos are sticking to their demand for judicial probe into Balsan’s death. GSU president Tengsak G. Momin said,“It is a delaying tactic. We will continue to press the government for a judicial probe. If government fails to gives us a convincing reply within seven days, we will step up agitation to ensure justice to late Balsan Marak’s family.”
The chief minister had on Monday assured the ngos that the government would accord highest priority to their demands.
Balsan, an undertrial prisoner, died in judicial custody at a government hospital on May 20.
Meghalaya government has constituted a high-level probe headed by commissioner of division (Garo hills), Peter J. Ingty and a magisterial probe ordered by the deputy commissioner of West Garo Hills.
The government has assured NGOs that the state government would look into the probe for the sake of “greater independence” and “credibility”, before taking into account any other enquiry.
However, the ngos are not willing to buy government’s assurance. “We don’t have faith in the magisterial probe. It can be manipulated. We will continue to demand for a judicial probe”, said Momin.
Questioning the version of the medical officer BC Paul of Tura district jail, an activist of Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) Pritam Marak said, “Balsan Marak was arrested on May 12 and not May 13 as claimed by the police. The police are trying to cover up the case and even misleading the media. We have seen severe bruise marks on his body”.
Pritam also questioned, “If Balsan was arrested as claimed by police on May 13, why was medical examination on him done on May 14 and not May 13, why the delay?”
The ngos have asked the public to be prepared to continue their fight for Balsan’s justice.- By Our Reporter
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