Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday said that he has not taken any decision on the request made by Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui to relieve him from the Home portfolio.
“I have received the letter from the home minister but I have not yet made a decision. I will be examining the matter and will take a decision at an appropriate time,” Sangma told reporters on Monday.
“As I said as chief minister as a government I have to look at all the aspects of the state’s security and overall situation. Therefore, keeping all those aspects in mind I am examining the letter and will take a decision at an appropriate time,” the Chief Minister added.
On Sunday, Rymbui had written to the Chief Minister urging him to relieve him from the Home portfolio to pave the way for a free and fair investigation into the “killing” of surrendered former HNLC militant Cheristerfield Thangkhiew during a police raid on Friday.
Several pressure groups and the family members of Thangkhiew have accused the state police had killed him in a “fake encounter” and demanded a judicial probe and resignation of Rymbui.
In the letter, the United Democratic Party legislator expressed shock over the incident in which “(L) Chesterfield Thangkhiew was killed following the raid of police at his residence exceeding the lawful tenets of the law”.
“Considering the gravity of the situation, I would to request you to relieve the Home (Police) Department from me with immediate effect. This will facilitate free and fair enquiry taken by the government to bring out the truth of the incident. I propose judicial enquiry be conducted,” Rymbui had stated in the letter.
