NPP demands judicial inquiry
TURA/SHILLONG: The district administration of North Garo Hills has ordered a magisterial probe into Wednesday night’s killing of two innocent civilians by Army personnel at Konchikol village, near Kharkutta bazaar, even as Opposition NPP has demanded judicial inquiry into the incident.
The magisterial inquiry will be conducted by additional district magistrate David D Sangma. He has been given one month’s time to complete the probe, which will look into all aspects of the case including statements from eye witness accounts, if any.
Meanwhile, an NPP delegation led by Conrad K Sangma visited the families of both the victims on Friday and assured them that the party would take up the matter with the government.
The NPP has demanded that a judicial enquiry should be immediately set up to look into the entire incident.
The NPP also demanded t that compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each should be paid to the families of both the victims immediately.
On the other hand, the bodies of the two victims, Rajasimla teacher Alphius M Momin (35) and Sweetbirth D Marak (30) were handed over to the families at Mendipather hospital on Thursday evening in the presence of senior government officers.
The deceased school teacher Alphius Momin was laid to rest at his native village of Rajasimla while the body of his friend Sweetbirth D Marak was taken to his wife’s village in Rongjeng for the funeral.
During the handing over of the bodies at Mendipather, local elders and leaders of student and social organizations demanded that the Meghalaya government strengthen the police force in the Kharkutta region to prevent entry of army personnel inside Garo Hills for security operations.
In the presence of Inspector General of Police (IGP) F D Sangma and Kharkutta MLA Cherak Momin, the local leaders pointed out that it was due to lack of infrastructure and sufficient police force in Kharkutta region that the army was able to operate.
Meanwhile, Kharkutta MDC Smith Momin also extended condolences to the bereaved families and demanded a proper inquiry into the incident.
