Mookhep firing: Panel suggests further inquiry
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has informed the Assembly that the magisterial probe report into the Mookhep firing incident has suggested further inquiry into a number of questions pertaining to the incident which the report itself has not addressed.
Two persons were killed and seven persons injured when security forces resorted to firing at a crowd which was agitating against NGT ban on coal mining at Mookhep, West Jaintia Hills on September 24.
In reply to a call attention motion moved by Ardent Basaiawmoit (HSPDP), the Chief Minister said that the State Government had ordered a magisterial enquiry by the Additional District Magistrate, West Jaintia Hills, Jowai to probe into the incident and to submit a report within 30 days.
“The Government at present is in the process of examining the findings and recommendations of the probe panel,” he said.
“It is found that the report had recommended further enquiry into a number of questions which the report itself has not addressed. Making the report public at this stage may not be appropriate as this may hamper the lines of action to be initiated thereafter,” the Chief Minister said.
In the meantime, he said the Government had sanctioned Rs 3 lakh each as ex-gratia payment to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 1.50 lakh to the injured persons.
Sangma said that the indefinite economic strike called by the Movement for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Livelihood- Meghalaya (MIPRL-M) and the conduct of the crowd in the highway had led to the breakdown of law and order, damage to public property, disruption of traffic including movement of essential commodities to not only within the district but also to the other neighbouring states.
The Chief Minister said that since the attempts made by the district administration to disperse the crowd in an orderly manner did not work and the crowd was getting aggressive and violent, the security forces resorted to firing, in which, two persons were killed and seven others injured.
The Chief Minister recalled that on September 24, there were no violent incidents in the morning in the East and West Jaintia Hills except pelting of stones on vehicles in several parts in the East Jaintia Hills. However, the situation turned ugly after the arrest of one person identified as Eibun Siangshai of Wapungskur. Soon after the news spread about the arrest of Siangshai, hundreds of residents of Wapungskur and nearby villages came to the National Highway 44 and started to block the way. At around 4 PM, the road was completely blocked and not even a single vehicle was allowed to pass through. It was informed that the residents of the village were demanding immediate release of the apprehended person in order to clear the road, the Chief Minister said.
He said that earlier on September 23 evening during the economic blockade, a group of people numbering about 600 to 700 armed with weapons assembled in NH – 44 at a place called Kyndongsoo near Wapung village and blocked the road resulting in complete obstruction of vehicular movement in highway. The mob torched tyres in the middle of the road and on arrival of the police, the mob became more violent and attacked the police where the Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills was injured. They also set on fire the vehicle of the Assistant Superintendent of Police and damaged a mini truck. Moreover, the official vehicle used by the Additional District Magistrate, RS Manners, was also damaged.