SHILLONG, JUNE 10: Garo hills based legislators expressed concern over the huge amount of public money that the state government spent on various enquiry commissions without taking any necessary action reminding the assembly of the September 30, 2005 police firing at Tura that killed at least nine people.
South Tura legislator John Lesle Sangma told the assembly during discussion on the Tura police firing on Tuesday, “Government has spent crores of rupees for setting up enquiry commissions but without taking any action since 1992.”
Sangma said the government had appointed the Justice DN Chodhury Commission of inquiry into police firing at Tura and spent Rs 64.85 lakh for the two members the commission. He said, “The families of the deceased killed in Tura firing are still waiting for justice since the government had failed to act on the report of commission who has found the DC and other officials responsible for killing of nine persons.”
The Commission was constituted to probe into the police firing killing nine students participating at a rally protesting the move to shift the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE) from Tura, West Garo Hills District.
Stating the September 30, 2005 firing will go down in the history of the state as a black Friday, Sangma said, “The officers who have been held responsible by the commission for the incident have been given promotion by the state government.”
Stating that justice delay is justice denied, Sangma further informed the house that he is also skeptic about the enquiries instituted by the government into the recent custodial deaths in West Garo hills and South Garo hills district. He said, “I appeal to the state government to ensure that necessary action is being taken so that we can give justice to the people.”
Earlier, Garo National Council (GNC) legislator Clifford R Marak while moving the motion demanded the state government to take action against all the guilty officials right from the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police and others as per the report of the Justice DN Choudhury commission of inquiry.
Marak said, “The state government has completely failed to act on the report of the commission and the culprits were given promotion instead of punishment.”
Replying to the motion, chief minister Mukul Sangma said, “It is not a fact that the state government had not acted on the very finding of the commission. Based on the enquiry report, departmental proceedings have been drawn against the officers concerned.”
Stating that it will be incorrect to allege that the state government is not inclusive to give justice, Sangma said, “The incident was a painful moment for everyone but the time has come for us to move on and allow the wound to heal instead of it remaining with.” He assured that the state government has not shrug its responsibility to ensure that justice is deliver to everybody.”
Admitting that every enquiry commission also comes with a price where government had to spend huge amount from the state exchequer, the chief minister reassured the house that whenever a commission is constituted, government will act accordingly.
On the recent custodial deaths, the chief minister also assured the house that the government will not shield or protect anybody whosoever is found guilty.
The chief minister told the house, “The state government will not under any circumstances seal anybody or allow anybody to manipulate the evidences which are giving direction to any conclusion under the provision of the law.” – By Our Reporter
Ha ha…The CM should tell the House against whom action was taken in the Jaibreak Inquiry…First of all they hold on to the report for 9 months. The Judge who did the inquiry died 3 days after he submitted the inquiry. Strange that the report spared Anil Pradhan who was incharge Jail when the whole planning for the Jailbreak was orchestrated, and targeted The senior most cop Kulbir Kishan…so that he will not get the DGP post…Looks like someone was trying to get rid of Fullmoon and at the same time remove the DGP so that the way is clear…its like hitting two birds with one stone…on on 16 May 2009 Fulmoon sends a message to his’Boss’ saying ‘Boss we are ready’ ..and interestingly who reacts to such a message is Anil Pradhan who moves for his transfer as DGP from the post of IG Prisons and his file is pushed through even on a Sunday. He gave his incumbent (Kulbir) only 45 minutes to relinquish his post on the 18th May 2009 and 12 days later Fullmoon flees the Jail….who benefits when the post of DGP is vacant? and can you believe it the report finds fault only with Mr Kulbir and Me….Mr CM please clarify…I may be wrong…but that is what I read in the report…
Terms of Reference No 2 of the Jailbreak Inquiry
(to determine the circumstances and events leading to the death of Sghri Fullmoon Dhar.
“In the cross -examination of Shri Mukesh Singh SP of Jowai, he has stated, among other things, that he had killed Fullmoon by shooting him from his own revolver and that he had no other way but to shoot him in exercise of his right to private defense as because Fullmoon himself was armed and that he was pointing with that weapon towards (MK Singh) and that there was every possibilty that Fullmoon would have fired at him…..under the circumstances, in my opinion, firing at Fullmoon Dhar by Shri MK Singh was justified, because his own life was in imminent danger.”….how can there be such a report when we have pointed out that the FIR was tampered, the arms register was tampered, the hand wash was not taken for gunpowder residue in the hand of Fullmoon…they failed to collect as there was no gunshot residue as he was unarmed when he was shot point blank by Mukesh who has admitted he has shot him.. Why were there 2 inquest reports and 1 missing. why were the arms ogf the Police not sent immediately also for FSL. If he really shot in self defense why did they have to cover up so much…Mr CM many things have to be answered, and now why is the SP Jowai presently taking it slow on the FIR of 2009 where we filed against the Jowai Police including Mukesh Singh.