Mukroh Firing: Assam Govt’s single person enquiry comm to begin probe today

The Assam Govt has formed a one-man enquiry commission under justice Rumi Kumari Phukan (retired Gauhati High Court judge) to probe to incident

The one-man enquiry commission under justice Rumi Kumari Phukan (retired Gauhati High Court judge) formed by the Assam government will probe into the firing incident at Mukroh in West Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya on November 22, 2022 today.

Rumi Kumari Phukan will be visiting the spot near the Assam-Meghalaya border to take stock of the situation.

Yesterday, Phukan visited Dokmoka and met officials of the police, forest department and various local organisations and took testimonies from them.

However, the local outfits were reportedly not satisfied with the hearing with the committee member, due to which another hearing has been fixed on January 9, 2023.

It may be mentioned that earlier the National Human Rights Commission, India (NHRC) has taken cognisance of the firing by the Assam armed forces in Meghalaya killing six persons including one Assam forest official.

According to the Commission, this incident appears to have occurred as a direct consequence of a border dispute between the two states of Assam and Meghalaya, which is a larger issue that has been pending for a long time.

On the surface, it appears that if this dispute had been resolved, such an incident would not have occurred.

As a result, the Commission has submitted the Memorandum to the Home Secretary of India and the Chief Secretary of the Government of Assam, Dispur.

They are to investigate and develop mechanisms/suggest measures to prevent such incidents, particularly in areas where neighbouring states have a border dispute.

The incident occurred on November 22 after the Assam Police and Assam Forest Guards chased a truck carrying timber.
These Forces detained the truck at Mukroh village.
The entry of the Assam Police in Mukroh agitated the villagers.
They surrounded the Assam Police and Assam Forest Guards, consequent upon this firing took place.
Four Meghalaya villagers died on the spot in the Assam Police and Assam forest guard firing.
One Assam forest o guard was also killed in the incident.

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