SHILLONG, Feb 26: The Justice T Vaiphei inquiry commission probing the killing of former HNLC leader Cheristerfield Thangkhiew is looking to complete the probe within the next three months.
After examining the medical officer who conducted the post mortem on Thangkhiew, Justice Vaiphei said it is difficult to set a target but the probe may take three more months. “We are even working on holidays to speed up the inquiry,” he said, adding that the examination of the government witnesses has been completed.
The next hearing has been scheduled for March 11-12 during which the panel would examine the members of Thangkhiew’s family who are the witnesses.
The commission has examined five government witnesses including the East Jaintia Hills SP, Jagpal Singh Dhanoa who led the August 13 operation in Shillong’s Kynton Massar locality.
The state government had on February 20 given an extension of three months to the commission for completing the inquiry.
The probe was ordered on August 16 last year after a public outcry over the death of the former Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council leader, who was shot by the police in an early morning raid.
As part of the inquiry, Justice Vaiphei had visited the victim’s house on February 5.
The hearing had started on September 9.