Garo NGOs serve 20-day deadline to Mukul Govt
TURA: Student and social groups from East Garo Hills have given the Dr. Mukul Sangma-led government 20 days’ time for action against the guilty police personnel who were allegedly involved in the killing of a labourer during a counter-insurgency operation near Williamnagar four years ago.
One of the prime accused in the fake encounter was the then circle inspector of Williamnagar, TC Chacko, who had led the operation. The accused is currently serving as a DSP in Khasi Hills region.
The NGOs led by the Garo Students’ Union has accused the State Government of failing to comply with the directive given by the National Human Rights Commission that had ordered the Meghalaya government to pay compensation to the next of kin of the slain labourer Washington N Marak.
“We have submitted various letters and memorandum demanding strict action against the erring officers and compensation for the next of kin of the deceased but none have been met,” mentioned the NGOs in their letter to the government.
During the early morning hours of January 26, 2010, police teams led by TC Chacko had raided Rongrekgre village near Williamnagar, across river Simsang looking for militants.
An encounter took place with GNLA militants not far from the village who repulsed the police attack with RPGs before fleeing from the area.
The police claimed to have shot dead a militant which later turned out to be a 60-year-old carpenter of the village identified as Washington N Marak. The concealment of the facts by police was revealed after villagers spoke out and clarified that Washington was a labourer working at the residence of Marbingston R Marak when police barged into the house and dragged out the man before shooting him dead.
At the time of the incident the district police chief was Sylvester Nongtner, who refused to acknowledge the fake encounter reiterating that his men had shot and killed a militant. The officer even showcased recovered items from an abandoned GNLA camp claiming that it was found in the possession of Washington Marak.
“It has been four long years since the deceased was killed in a fake encounter and yet no justice has been given to the case which has not only hurt the sentiments of the Garo community but also compelled us to lose all hope. The law needs to be upheld and the guilty needs to be punished,” demanded the NGOs.