Mookhep firing: 2nd probe panel gets 30 days time
SHILLONG: Mystery surrounds as to why the Government was unwilling to make public the first probe report by the East Jaintia Hills Additional Deputy Commissioner S.S. Syiemlieh on Mookhep firing incident of September 24.
Two persons – Derestmon Siangshai and Setlang Phawa who were part of a group agitating over varied issues related to the NGT ban on coal mining, were killed and seven others injured in the police firing. However, the Government rejected the report and entrusted the probe to Commissioner and Secretary D P Wahlang.
The reason cited by the Government for rejecting the first report was that it posed several questions rather than providing answers. This act of the government has raised doubts upon the intention of the government.
However, sources said that if the Government has nothing to hide, the first report should have been made public even it had raised many questions without giving answers.
The pressure groups had repeatedly asked the Government to make the report public.
“It took almost three months for the Government to decide to have another probe by another Government official as the first report was submitted on November 11 last year”, sources pointed out.
The dead line to complete the fresh Mookhep firing probe has been fixed to be 30 days.
The terms of reference of the Inquiry are to ascertain the actual facts and circumstances leading to the firing incident resulting into the death of two civilians, to ascertain whether law and order arrangement was adequate or otherwise, to ascertain whether there were lapses on the part of the officials detailed for duty on September 24 and if so, to fix responsibility thereof or any other matter which could have relevance to the Inquiry.