Assam witnesses to skip hearing in city

SHILLONG, June 10: Amid ongoing probe relating to the Mukroh firing incident last year, by Justice (retired) T Vaiphei-led judicial inquiry commission, Assam Police officials and Forest department personnel have expressed apprehension over arriving in Shillong to attend a hearing on the matter.
The counsel for Assam pleaded for the examination and cross-examination of the officials to be conducted in Guwahati.
The counsels of Meghalaya did not raise any objection to the appeal.
Initially, Justice (retd) T Vaiphei had recommended Byrnihat for the hearing but Assam Police said that they will provide all logistics for holding the proceedings in Guwahati. Since there was no objection from the counsels of Meghalaya, the Commission decided to hold the hearing for examination of Assam government witnesses in Guwahati.
“Once they are examined and cross-examined, we will again shift to Shillong,” Justice (retd) T Vaiphei said.
Examination and cross-examination of Assam Police officers and the state’s Forest department personnel will be held in Guwahati at 11 am on June 15 and 16.
The Commission, in an order, has made it clear that the state of Meghalaya will have the right of cross-examination of the witnesses so produced.
During the hearing on Friday, the inquiry commission heard S Sahay, AS Pandey and A Sharan, the counsel appearing for the state of Meghalaya besides PN Goswami, the Additional Advocate General, Assam, assisted by D Gogoi, the counsel for the state of Assam.
The Court also heard TL Jyrwa, the counsel for the villagers of Mukroh.
It may be recalled that six persons including five from Meghalaya were killed and two seriously injured in the alleged police firing by Assam on November 22 last year in Mukroh.