SHILLONG, April 11: Retired Justice T Vaiphei’s one-man judicial commission probing the killing of former Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council leader Cheristerfield Thangkhiew is likely to wrap up the hearings by April 23.
The retired judge told The Shillong Times on Monday that the next hearings are scheduled on April 22 and 23, following which he would discuss with all the parties involved whether the process can be wrapped up for the report to be reserved.
The commission had examined the investigating officer (IO) of the Khliehriat police station on April 8. The officer had produced the case diary and the post-mortem report among other documents.
The IO is expected to produce the seized weapons, photographs and other articles on April 23.
Justice Vaiphei said the panel would submit its report to the government before the extended deadline of May 20.
The commission has so far held 20 hearings to probe into the incident. It had earlier examined Thangkhiew’s youngest son and wife besides the IO of Mawlai police station. The commission also examined many 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, 2021, after a public outcry over the death of Thangkhiew, who was shot by the police in an early morning raid.
