The judicial inquiry into the encounter death of former HNLC general secretary Cherishterfield Thangkhiew will be in-camera or private.
Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) chairman Justice T Vaiphei conducted the first hearing on the case here today.
During the hearing, the Meghalaya police moved an application requesting the inquiry commission to conduct the proceedings of the inquiry in-camera by excluding members of the public and family members of the victim.
After examining the plea, Justice Vaiphei allowed the request for the in-camera proceedings. Only the lawyer appearing for the family of the late Thangkhiew, officials of the commission and police officials concerned will be permitted to take part in the proceedings.
Meanwhile, the evidence if any to be produced by the State government will be taken up during the next hearings on January 14 and 15.
Justice Vaiphei said that he wanted to complete the inquiry at the earliest.
The judicial inquiry was set up by the State government on August 16, 2021 following the killing of Thangkhiew by police at his residence in Mawlai Kyntonmassar here during the wee hours of August 13, 2021.
Police claimed that the former HNLC leader tried to attack the police team with a knife when they entered his bedroom.
