By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 21: Financial assistance was sought in the Assembly on Thursday for the family of a truck driver, Roning Nongkynrih of Jalynteng village, who was allegedly shot dead by BSF personnel along Shillong-Dawki road on May 6.
Appealing for government intervention, Sohra MLA Gavin Miguel Mylliem said that deceased’s wife and two children are struggling to make ends meet in the absence of the family’s bread-winner.
“My concern is that the family of the late truck driver is unfortunately not getting the human consideration, which it should. There is no other bread earner for the family now,” Mylliem said, while moving a zero-hour motion during the ongoing autumn session of the Assembly.
He expressed anguish over the circumstances in which the family is eking out a living.
He told the House that no relief has been provided by the BSF despite four months since the incident.
“Neither the BSF nor the Government of India has sanctioned any kind of relief to the family. I would therefore strongly urge the state government to kindly take up this matter in the strongest possible manner with the GoI so that justice is served within a fixed time, maybe a month or two,” he said.
Stressing on the gravity of the situation, the Sohra MLA urged the state government to consider sanctioning expenditure assistance from its side. “I also hope that the central government would act in this case in view of the circumstances. But I would like to urge for a compassionate view or sympathetic view to be taken by the government. So that justice is given to this poor family, which deserves all the help that it can get,” Mylliem said.
In his reply, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the police have registered a criminal case on the basis of the FIR filed by the relative of the deceased, Ribalskhem Nongkynrih.
“The matter is under investigation. But no arrest has been made in connection with this case,” Tynsong informed the House.
The Deputy Chief Minister also told the House that the BSF had filed a counter FIR in the case.
According to the BSF, a mobile check post of the force was deployed at Wahkdait, Pynursla-Dawki road, on the night of May 5 this year. The BSF personnel, who were manning the check post, had cautioned the driver (Roning Nongkynrih) to pull over the truck and cooperate for a checking.
The counter FIR claims that the truck driver, however, while making a run for it tried to run over BSF personnel on duty.
Sensing danger, the BSF personnel fired two rounds in the air at an interval. The driver however did not stop, and proceeded to hit the personnel, when the BSF personnel again fired towards the tyre in a bid to stop the vehicle. “…but the driver turned his vehicle towards the left and collided with the divider,” Tynsong said, while quoting the counter FIR of the BSF.
“At present, the investigation of both the cases is on and the police officials are putting in sincere efforts to ascertain the facts and circumstances of both the cases,” Tynsong added.
It may be recalled that three BSF personnel were arrested for allegedly gunning down truck driver. All three were also reportedly suspended from service.