M’laya: Protests erupt in Shillong over Cheristerfield encounter

The inquiry report said that while the operation was a well-laid plan, it was executed poorly, recklessly, hastily, and without proper application of mind.

Protests erupted in the state capital Shillong after the Justice Vaiphei inquiry report on the encounter of former HNLC leader Cheristerfield Thangkiew was tabled on the floor of the State Assembly on Friday.

The inquiry report said that while the operation was a well-laid plan, it was executed poorly, recklessly, hastily, and without proper application of mind.

The report added that it was a botched operation and failed in its objective of apprehending the deceased alive, who could have given valuable information to the police about the subversive activities of the proscribed HNLC.

The report added that the Tactical Team I carrying out the operation to arrest the deceased at his residence on August 13th at around 3 am was culpable for thoughtless and excessive use of force, which resulted in the death of the deceased, late Cheristerfield Thangkiew, which turned out to be avoidable.

The report also said that the forced entry into the house of the deceased in darkness and the subsequent killing of the deceased was a reckless exercise and tantamount to the disproportionate use of force, which resulted in the death of the deceased.

The report has termed the operation as a botched-up one that could have been better executed.

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