SHILLONG, Nov 22: The State Congress on Tuesday demanded a public apology from Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and resignation of Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui for neglecting the people of Mukroh village resulting in the loss of five precious lives in the firing by Assam police.
“I condemned the Assam police firing on innocent civilians and my deepest condolences goes out to the bereaved families,” MPCC president Vincent H Pala said.
“This is not happening for the first time. Now five people have died due to the negligence of the government and the Home Minister should step down,” he added.
He reminded the UDP that it had once demanded the Home Minister to step down and asked if they will make the same demand again.
He asked the CM to apologise to the people of Mukroh village and provide adequate compensation and government job to at least one member of the family of the deceased.
“This incident occurred inside Meghalaya; the state government should be sensitive about the border issue or people will become sandwiched in between the two states,” he added.
Opposition leader Mukul Sangma termed the firing by Assam police as a case of genocide. Sangma, who visited Mukroh village shortly after the incident came to the light, said the incident occurred well within the administrative jurisdiction of the state of Meghalaya.
The UDP demanded the state government to constitute a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the death of five innocent villagers in view of the barbaric act of the Assam police.
The party also decided to postpone the announcement of its first list of candidates for the Assembly polls.
UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh said Mukroh area falls under Mookaiaw constituency which is represented by party MLA Nujorki Sungoh.
“We would urge upon the government, especially Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to take a very strong action and initiate the NIA probe into this incident,” Lyngdoh said.
He also informed that he called the Home Minister to meet senior leaders of the party to take a decision with regard to the incident.
“We will take a decision on the matter once we are briefed by Rymbui,” the UDP president added.
Meanwhile, BJP legislator and Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai wrote a letter to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and expressed shock over the incident.
Terming the incident as cold-blooded murder by Assam police and forest personnel, Shullai said the incident has led to hue and cry across Meghalaya.
“This incident and the use of force by Assam police along border areas have always created a sense of insecurity among the people of Meghalaya and feels like they are trying to force their way into Meghalaya territory. This development has led to fear among the local residents residing at the bordering village near Assam who are genuine citizens of our country,” Shullai’s letter read.
“Assam police cannot treat them like foreign nationals and if the Assam government wants a peaceful Northeast then being a big brother it should show us the way. Such incidents of terror wherein five people have been killed is only a sign of undermining the neighbouring state,” the letter said, while adding: “Justice needs to be met for these lost lives and the residents of Meghalaya including the BJP leaders and karyakartas want immediate suspension and arrest of those involved in the brutal act.”
Senior UDP leader Bindo Lanong also condemned the dastardly murder of innocent villagers of Mukroh by Assam police personnel.
“The pre-conceived murder by Assam police carried out during wee hours of November 22 was nothing but appears to avenge the death of their personnel recently in Assam-Mizoram border, in the style of robbing Peter to pay Paul, also to receive a pat on their back by their humiliated government,” Lanong said.
“I urge the Meghalaya government to put up a brave fight with Assam, without any submission, but strictly on the basis of historical facts, documentary and ground reality amongst others,” he added.
