SHILLONG, July 29: Trinamool Congress (TMC) state president, Charles Pyngrope has advocated an independent probe to get to the bottom of the recent violence in Tura.
“I strongly feel that an independent probe will go down well with the people of Meghalaya since we would know the factors responsible for this violence,” Pyngrope told reporters on Saturday.
He asked the government not to politicise the issue. “Let truth prevail and law take its own course,” the Meghalaya TMC leader said.
Asked about Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s claim that the accused persons were arrested based on evidence, Pyngrope said if there is video evidence, then the police have done their job.
However, he said he still has reservation over the arrest of party leader Richard Marak. He said he was given to understand that Marak was not present at the place of incident at that point in time.
“I find it quite surprising that they picked him up for questioning and detained. As far as my knowledge goes, his wife was released the same day. I was made to understand that he was with his wife at his residence at the time of the violence,” Pyngrope said. Stressing on police reforms, he said it is important to deploy efficient police officers to handle such situations.
“The DGP stated it was pre-planned. Why no proper SOPs were put in place then?” the TMC leader asked.
Asked if the party is still sticking to the demand of suspension of the DGP and the SP of West Garo Hills for failing to preempt the Tura violence, Pyngrope said he had not issued any statement to this effect.
“I condemn the incident. We cannot afford to behave like barbarians. The attempt to especially harm the Chief Minister has brought disgrace to our community and to the state as a whole,” Pyngrope added.
