Shillong: The Meghalaya government has cancelled all the upcoming official festivals in the state, including the popular Cherry Blossom festival, owing to the firing incident at Mukroh in West Jaintia Hills district on Tuesday in which six persons have died.
“As a mark of respect and mourning for the deceased, the government has decided to cancel all official festivals, including the Cherry Blossom festival,” Chief Minister Conrad Sangma announced on Tuesday.
Sangma added that this would cause “damage” to the tourism sector; however, the decision was taken as “lives are more precious than revenue.”
The state government had lined up a number of festivals in the upcoming months that included the Cherry Blossom, Winter Tales and the Meghalayan Age.
Meghalaya govt to constitute judicial probe into firing
The Meghalaya Cabinet on Tuesday decided to constitute a comprehensive judicial inquiry into the firing incident at Mukroh in West Jaintia Hills district on Tuesday in which six persons died.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the Cabinet has also decided to send a delegation to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday and demand an investigation either by the CBI or the NIA over the firing incident.
He said the delegation will also meet the National Human Rights Commission and “we will submit our report to the Commission” as well.
Apart from the judicial commission, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be constituted to investigate the case as an FIR has been lodged and the DIG of the Eastern Range will be heading it.
