Shillong: Meghalaya Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has refused to make any commitment to the demand for an independent inquiry into the killing of former Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council militant leader, Cheristerfield Thangkhiew.
The opposition Trinamool Congress, pressure groups, and the family of Thangkhiew were left dissatisfied by the contents and demanded a full Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
“I have already explained the stand of the government on the floor of the House,” the Home Minister said.
Asked what action will be taken against the police Tactical Team-1 responsible for the raid, Rymbui said the government has sought a necessary explanation from the police department and, based on that, a decision will be taken on what further steps to take.
“Everyone wants justice and the government is duty-bound to provide it,” the Home Minister said.
Thangkhiew was killed on August 13, 2021, during a police raid on his house at Mawlai Kynton Massar locality in the state capital.
The police had claimed that the former militant leader was shot in self-defense after he tried to stab them. Thangkhiew’s death had led to widespread violence with an angry mob setting vehicles on fire and brandishing firearms snatched from the police.
In his 28-page report, Vaiphei said, “The operation was a well-laid plan, but executed poorly, recklessly, hastily and without proper application of mind.
In order words, it was a botched-up operation and failing in its objective of apprehending the deceased alive, who would have given valuable information to the police about the subversive activities of the proscribed HNLC outfit”.
The Commission found that the Tactical Team- I of the Meghalaya police in carrying out the operation to arrest the former HNLC militant from his residence was “culpable of thoughtlessness and excessive use of force” which resulted in the death of Thangkhiew.
