SHILLONG, May 16: Director-General of Police (DGP) Lajja Ram Bishnoi on Tuesday said the police have sought custody of the three BSF personnel who allegedly gunned down a truck driver, Roning Nongkynrih at Mawshun village in East Khasi Hills on May 6 while he was transporting cattle
Bishnoi told reporters that they had met Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong along with a BSF official to discuss the matter in details and to seek custody of the three personnel who were arrested after the incident.
“We discussed about the provisions of the court and also of the BSF. The force has assured us to take follow-up action as per their policy. We have insisted that as per the court order they should be handed over to the state police,” the DGP said.
According to Bishnoi, the BSF official will have to discuss the demand with the higher ups since there are certain provisions that central government employees have to follow.
Soon after the incident, the BSF personnel were placed under arrest and are currently confined to their quarters.
The three BSF personnel have been identified as Head Constable Moni Singh, Constable Sengel Singh and driver Kadam Kishore.
As per reports, the head constable who fired three rounds from his Beretta SMG at the deceased causing instant death has been suspended from service with immediate effect.
Ribalskhem Nongkynrih, a cousin of the deceased, had narrated the incident and said that Roning was attempting to enter a bye-lane along the Pynursla-Dawki road when he was shot in the head by the BSF personnel.
Ribalskhem, who was with the deceased in the truck, revealed that the vehicle fell into a drain near the roadside after the BSF personnel took the shots.
Ribalskhem recalled that his brother swerved the truck to make way for the BSF personnel but they instead shot him in the head.
The state government had condemned the killing and slammed the BSF for allegedly violating the standard operating procedures.
The Voice of the People Party (VPP) had also condemned the “excesses” committed by the BSF personnel and had demanded strong action against the perpetrators.
The KSU had organised a protest rally at Pynursla and had demanded exemplary action against the BSF personnel for gunning down the truck driver.