SHILLONG, Dec 4: The United Democratic Party (UDP) on Sunday said the Mukroh incident could have been avoided if the state government had paid heed to the repeated concerns expressed by party MLA Nujorki Sungoh from Mowkaiaw constituency and taken pre-emptive action.
UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said the legislator had, time and again, raised this issue citing repeated cases of harassment, highhandedness and taxing of Meghalaya residents by Assam police in his constituency bordering Assam but the state government ignored the same.
“If the government had paid heed to the voice of the party and the MLA, preemptive measures could have been taken and the Mukroh incident could have been avoided,” Mawthoh said, recalling that Sungoh had even raised the matter during the recent Assembly session.
“The government needs to wake up and take pro-active steps as a preventive measure to safeguard those residing along the interstate border with Assam,” he added.
Mawthoh suggested that a skilled border force should be deployed to ensure safety and security and instill confidence in the minds of the border population.
Speaking about the demand for Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui’s resignation in the wake of the Mukroh killings, Mawthoh said the UDP leaders held necessary deliberation and interactions and came to the conclusion that the Home minister’s resignation was uncalled for.
He also urged party members not to politicise the issue.
“Some section of the UDP leaders may have been of the opinion that he (Rymbui) should step down on moral ground but we have deliberated and assessed all angles,” the UDP leader said.
On UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh’s recent statement that Rymbui should step down taking moral responsibility, Mawthoh said it was his (Paul’s) personal opinion and not that of the party.
Mawthoh asserted that the Home minister had taken initiatives since 2020 to set up border outposts in seven sensitive areas. “The Barato outpost was in the offing but the unfortunate incident took place,” he said.
Asked whether repeated attacks on Rymbui were an indication that all was not well within the UDP, Mawthoh said, “The UDP is united and if not then why people are inclined to join the party. We are trying to provide stability and the much needed direction for the state.”
