Mukroh firing: Meghalaya Govt to Apprise HM Amit Shah, Cabinet Meet Today

Reported by Francis Marbaniang

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma mourned the loss of lives in the firing incident along the Assam-Meghalaya this morning and said his government would apprise the Union Home Minister Amit regarding the incident and that FIR has been lodged and a magisterial enquiry ordered into the incident.

“The place of incident is well within Meghalaya and an FIR has been filed in this regard. Six persons have lost their lives due to unprovoked firing by Assam Police and Assam Forest Guards. A magisterial enquiry has been initiated as per the SOP which is already there to be followed in case of such situations,” CM Sangma said briefing the media in Shillong a little while ago.

CM Sangma mourned the loss of lives in the “unprovoked firing” and said that all festivals including the Cherry Blossom Festival stands cancelled. “As a mark of respect and mourning for the deceased the state govt has decided to cancel all official festivals including the Cherry blossom festival. An ex-gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased shall be released”, he said.

Narrating the incident, CM Sangma said, “the truck carrying timber was detained by the Assam Police as well as the Assam Forest Guards at Mukroh. On hearing this people of Mukroh village gathered in large numbers and surrounded the Assam Police as well as Assam Forest Guard personnel. This led to firing by Assam Police in which 5 persons from Meghalaya died, 1 Assam forest guard also died due to the firing. On hearing the incident the district magistrate, the SP and others rushed to the spot. The Meghalaya Home Minister has also reached the spot of incident and an FIR has been registered by Meghalaya Police.”

Asked about steps being taken to ensure peace in the sensitive locations along the Assam-Meghalaya border, the CM said, “The police department is on alert in the sentitive locations along the Assam-Meghalaya border. Necessary manpower would be provided to them.”

As a precautionary measure, the Meghalaya government has already shut internet services for 48 hours till tomorrow and entry of tourists into the state has been restricted to ensure their safety.

The CM said that the above decisions were taken at the emergency meeting he held for two hours from 9 AM today with Deputy CM Pretone Tyngson, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Chief Secretary, other senior officials and traditional heads, Rangbah Shnongs, religious leaders, CSOs, NGOs of the state.

A Cabinet meeting is scheduled this evening to further discuss the issue.

CM Sangma said,”We are going to have a Cabinet meeting in the evening. And different points are going to be discussed in the meeting. We have already laid down 4-5 points but without taking a final approvalof the Cabinet, it will not be right for me to spell out all the points. But we are going to meet the Union Home Minister and place before him our demands and the points that we have for necessary action.”

“The state government strongly condemns the incident wherein the Assam Police and Assam Forest Guards entered Meghalaya and resorted to unprovoked firing. Government of Meghalaya will take all steps possible to ensure that justice is done and action is taken against those responsible for this inhuman act,” CM Sangma said.

Conrad Sangma has called for maintaining peace and tranquility. “At this point in time I would like to appeal to all the citizens of the state to pray for the departed souls and specially for the families who have lost their loved ones. I would also like to appeal the citizens ofthe state to maintain peace and harmony in the state.”

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