SHILLONG, May 9: Three Border Security Force personnel were arrested on Monday for allegedly gunning down truck driver Roning Nongkynrih from Jalynteng village along the Pynursla-Dawki Road at Pomshutia on the night of May 5.
A BSF official, seeking anonymity, confirmed the arrest on Tuesday and said the three included the one who shot the driver.
“All three have been suspended from service and are now confined to the quarter guard,” he said.
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh in the DO letter to Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that his attention was drawn to the incident where the truck driver lost his life due to the high-handedness and unprovoked firing by the BSF personnel.
“Of late, the effort of the Home (Police) Department which falls under your control is to be lauded for the measures taken in boosting the confidence of the people of Meghalaya where there was no unnecessary loss of lives. However, these stray incidents by the central parliamentary forces have put a blot on a peace-loving state for which your kind intervention is sought for bringing these perpetrators to justice,” he said in the letter.
Lyngdoh suggested as a long-term measure the deployment of the BSF personnel along the international border instead of civilian areas deeper inside the state. Such an arrangement would offset unnecessary incidents, he felt.
He also wrote a demi-official letter to the BSF’s Director General to ensure that the personnel responsible for gunning down the truck driver are brought to book.
Earlier on Monday, the Khasi Students’ Union had taken out a protest rally at Pynursla demanding the immediate arrest of the three BSF personnel.
KSU general secretary, Donald Thabah while addressing the rally said it is up to every able-bodied resident to tear down the BSF camps in the Ri War area.
He urged the inquiry committee to recommend life imprisonment for the BSF personnel and not mere transfer or suspension.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday said he has sought a full report on the killing of Nongkynrih for allegedly transporting cattle.
He told reporters that he has asked the investigation officer to submit a report on the incident. “It will not be appropriate for me to comment until and unless I receive the report,” he said.
