Families of firing victims threatened strike

SHILLONG, DEC 1: Families of the two who were killed in the September 24-Mookhep firing in East Jaintia hills district have threatened to go on a hunger strike if the state government fails to made public the report of the magisterial inquiry into the shooting incident.

Phillip James Bamon, a brother-in-law of Derest Siangshai, who was killed in the firing told reporters at a news conference on Monday, “We demand the state government to immediately make public the findings of the magisterial inquiry instituted to probe into the firing incident.”

Bamon lamented that two months have gone by since the magistrate submitted the report but the family members have no inkling about the findings.

According to Bamon both the families of the two who were killed are of the views that the state government is trying to hide the report as it had recently indicated that it may institute another inquiry into the incident.

“We would be compelled to resort to a hunger strike if the state government fails to comply with our demands,” Bamon threatened.

Two civilians that includes S Phawa and D Siangshai were killed while injuring several others were injured in the firing at Mookhep village which took place during the economic blockade called by the MIPRL to  protest against the NGT ban on coal mining in Meghalaya.

However, the chief minister Mukul Sangma said during the just concluded winter session of assembly, “Making the report public at this stage may not be appropriate as this may hamper the lines of action to be initiated thereafter.”

The government is in the process of examining the findings and recommendations, the chief minister claimed.

Meanwhile, the family members of the victim also demanded the government pay Rs10 lakh as compensation, to appoint one of the next of kin as an employee in the government department, besides bearing the educational expenses of the school going offspring.

Lynti Suk Suchaing, sister of the deceased (Siangshai) said, “The killing of her brother during in the unfortunate incident has left the entire family in jeopardy since he was the lone earning member of the house”.

However, the aggrieved family members have not put any tentative deadline to the government on the hunger strike.

The government had earlier sanctioned an ex-gratia payment of Rs 3 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 1.5 lakh to those injured.- By Our Reporter