Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) chairman Justice T Vaiphei today expressed hope that his probe into the death of former Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) militant Cherishterfield Thangkhiew will be completed within the next three months.
The Vaiphei-headed one-man inquiry commission today examined the medical officer who conducted the post mortem of the former HNLC general secretary.
He informed that the next hearing is scheduled for March 11 and 12 and he will examine Thangkhiew’s family who are the witnesses.
Justice Vaiphei added that since the counsels from Delhi are not able to come next week, an agreement has been made that they will be available on March 11 and 12.
“The victim’s family will produce their witnesses in the next hearing. We are also working on holidays to speed up the inquiry,” he said.
The commission has so far examined five witnesses. The first two state government witnesses Idashisha Nongrang who is the acting Director General of Police and Jagpal Singh Dhanoa, the Superintendent of Police of East Jaiñtia Hills were examined on February 4.
Dhanoa is one among the police officials who led the operation on at Kynton Massar locality in Shillong.
As part of the inquiry the chairperson had also visited Thangkhiew’s house on February 5.
The Vaiphei inquiry commission was constituted by the Meghalaya government under Section 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 to inquire into the facts and circumstances leading to the police action on August 13 resulting in the death of Thangkhiew at his residence on August 13.
The commission is looking into the culpability or otherwise of the police action resulting in the death of Thangkhiew and any other circumstances which, in the opinion of the commission, are relevant.
