SHILLONG, NOV 30: Jaintia hills ngos and families of the victims, who were killed in the Mookhep firing last year, served ten-day deadline on Monday to the state government to make public the ‘inquiry reports’ probing into the incident.
They have threatened to announce agitations if the state government fails to meet their demand and also terminate the officials involved in ordering and firing leading to the killing of two civilians.
The decision was taken at a public meeting held at the parking lot near the Additional Secretariat after taking out a ‘black-flag’ protest march which participated by a less than a hundred crowd in the city on Monday.
The protest march, which started from Malki locality, was organized by the Jaintia National Council (JNC) which comprise of it units from East and West Jaintia Hills District, and the Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM).
“We have decided to serve the last and final deadline to the state government demanding it to immediately make public the inquiry reports into the incident within December 10,” JNC chairman Sambormi Lyngdoh said.
He said, “This time if the state government continues to be adamant then it should also be prepared for the consequences as we will be compelled to take out intensive agitational programmes.”
“We also want to send a strong message to the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma that we are not demanding for his chair but justice that we want. This government should be condemned for denying justice to the victims,” Lyngdoh said.
He also questioned the failure of the leaders of the Movement for Indigenous People’s Rights and Livelihood (MIPRL) to take the issue seriously since the two villagers were killed during a rally organized by them against banning on Coal mining by the NGT last year.
Referring to the stone-pelting incident during a recent rally called by the headmen in the state capital, the JNC chairman said, “It is ironic that this government had acted in quick manner to nab the people involved in pelting stones while delaying for over a year to find out the people who killed the two innocent civilians.”
“The government should come out clear what is important whether to arrest public who pelted stones or to nab murderers and put them behind bars. Or is it that it is not a crime or illegal thing when police kill innocent people,” he added.
Echoing similar views, HNAM central body president Lamphrang Kharbani said, “We are ready to fight till the end, we don’t mind even if we are jailed by authorities concerned but we will ensure that the two lives, we’ve lost should get justice.”
“It is time that the chief minister listen to the voice of the public and ensure guilty policemen whose act is equal to that of militants, be booked as per law,” he said.
It may be mentioned here, at least two civilians – D Siangshai and S Phawa, were shot dead while several injured during the firing incident which took place at Mookhep village in East Jaintia hills district on September 24, last year.
Taking part in the meeting, an emotional mother of D Siangshai, one of the victims killed during the incident, said, “I will not rest till the government gives me justice…for I have lost a son. I demand justice, justice and only justice.”
With tears rolling down her eyes, the bereaved mother said, “My son was not a thief or a criminal that he be killed mercilessly by the bullets of the police. In fact, he had gone there to participate in the rally to demand this government to give back the livelihood of the people of the region.”-By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours