Shillong: Meghalaya’s opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday demanded an independent probe into the killing of Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, the surrendered general secretary of the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
The demand for an independent probe by the National Investigating Agency or the Central Bureau of Investigation comes after the Meghalaya government placed the report of the one-man commission of inquiry by retired judge T. Vaiphei on the first day of the autumn session of the Meghalaya Assembly.
The report stated that the former militant leader was killed in a “reckless operation using excessive force” by the police.
“Based on the circumstances which led to the unfortunate incident, the report has led to the Commission of Inquiry. It is incumbent upon the government to take all necessary actions. However, in this case, justice has been denied. Consequently, it creates a situation where there is a lack of trust in the government and the authority,” Leader of Opposition, Mukul Sangma said.
In his report, Vaiphei said that the tactical team 1 of the Meghalaya police in carrying out the operation to arrest the former HNLC militant from his residence was “culpable of thoughtless and excessive use of force” which resulted in the death of Thangkhiew.
“If they wanted to arrest him, they would have enriched themselves with information crucial to the investigation. In the matter of pursuing any instance of crime, the inputs are of paramount importance. The sources of inputs and evidence are destroyed. Killing a potential man who could give you information is counterproductive. This information is crucial for the security of the state,” Sangma said.
“Going by the circumstances, I am asking the people of the state to raise the question of whether there was a criminal conspiracy resulting in the death and there has to be an independent inquiry to find the answer,” the TMC legislator asserted.
