SHILLONG, Dec 14: The Opposition Congress on Tuesday asked the NPP-led MDA Government to expedite and not extend the one-man inquiry into the death of former HNLC leader, Cheristerfield Thangkhiew.
The independent probe, headed by Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) chairperson and former Chief Justice of Tripura High Court, Justice T Vaiphei, is yet to submit its report despite five months since the incident, the Congress pointed out.
Talking to reporters, Shillong City Congress Committee (SCCC) president, PT Sawkmie, said that the state government had assured on the floor of the Assembly that the one-man inquiry commission will complete the inquiry within three months.
He also said that the inquiry panel has not been proactive in recording statement of the witnesses pertaining to the case.
Suspecting that the government is attempting to bury the issue with ‘delay tactics’, Sawkmie demanded that those responsible for Thangkhiew’s killing must be brought to justice.
Earlier, Justice Vaiphei had hinted that he would seek another extension since the inquiry is going to take more time.
The state government had already given a month’s extension to the inquiry commission.
According to Justice Vaiphei, the extension was given with effect from November 20 but he
received the letter on November 26 or 27.
“I will not be able to give the exact time when I will complete the inquiry. I will examine if there is a need to cross-examine any of the witnesses. I will also have to consider if the some of the documents can be shared with the other party,” Vaiphei told recently.
