State rights panel gets two plaints

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya State Human Rights Commission has received two complaints, one from Guwahati and another from the city to probe the May 31 incident at Punjabi Lane and the subsequent violence. An NGO from Guwahati, ‘We for Justice’ headed by retired Supreme court judge S.N. Phukan, on June 27 had written to the chairperson of the commission, Justice Aftab Hussain Saikia to probe the violent incidents in the city.
The NGO’s petition said violence had marred communal peace and harmony, while it wanted the panel to probe the reasons for the tension between the two communities.
The NGO provides legal assistance to the weaker sections.
A city based pastor also wanted the rights panel to probe the police action against the crowd.
Pastor Macdonald Pyngrope from Mission Compound petitioned the State Human Rights Commission citing the excess force used by the police personnel while controlling the crowd and also the use of expired teargas.
An official with the commission said the complaints will be examined on Monday.