The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has stated that the recent Mukroh firing incident which claimed six lives appears to have occurred as a result of a border dispute between the two states of Assam and Meghalaya, which is a broader issue that has been ongoing for a long time.
The NHRC today said that it has taken cognisance of the memorandum submitted by the chief minister of Meghalaya on the incident and ordered the Centre and Assam governments to examine and develop mechanisms to prevent such incidents.
“Prima facie, it appears that, had this dispute been settled, such type of incident would have been averted. Whatever may be the dispute between the states, police have to use restraint in such situations,” the NHRC said in a statement.
Further, the NHRC stated that it would like to have the standard operating procedure (SOP) about firing by armed forces or police in areas of the boundary dispute between neighbouring states investigated.
As a result, the commission has forwarded the memorandum to the Union Home Secretary and the Chief Secretary of Assam. The response is expected in two weeks, it said.
“They are to examine and evolve mechanisms/suggest measures to prevent such types of incidents, particularly in areas in which there is a border dispute between neighbouring states. The response is expected in two weeks,” the NHRC said.
It may be mentioned that Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had sought the intervention of the NHRC over the police firing by Assam police at Mukroh and the loss of lives.
Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong met NHRC chairperson Justice (retired) Arun Kumar Mishra and other members of the commission in New Delhi on November 25. Sangma termed the police firing as a “clear violation of human rights”.
