Chief Minister Conrad Sangma clashed with North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum in the Assembly today over the killing of former HNLC militant Cherishterfield Thangkhiew, who died in a police raid on August 13.
After facing a barrage of questions from the opposition Congress during Question Hour, Nongrum, who is ostensibly a member of the ruling MDA, wanted a straight answer from the Home Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui, on whether or not Thangkhiew’s death was pre-planned.
When Rymbui replied that the government has set up a judicial inquiry to probe the circumstances leading to the killing, Nongrum got agitated by saying that the Home Minister had not answered his query on whether there was an order to arrest Thangkhiew or to shoot him on sight.
Nongrum, who has become famous, or infamous, for his theatrics, said that the statements of the CM, HM and police chief have been contradictory. “They are being dramatic, though they accuse me of being dramatic,” he said.
At this, Sangma intervened and called out the MLA for objectionable behaviour.
“This kind of behaviour is not what we follow in this house,” the CM said, adding that the Home Minister had said that a judicial inquiry has begun and, therefore, it is inappropriate to reveal anything while the probe is on.