An all-party meeting was held today to brief leaders of political parties and local MLAs on last Tuesday’s Mukroh Massacre and the steps the state government has taken to bring the guilty to account and provide relief to those affected.
Party leaders from border areas were also part of the meeting. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that discussions were also held on the issues plaguing border areas, especially those which are in dispute with Assam.
Mukroh lies close to the border with Assam in West Jaiñtia Hills but is not in dispute by the two states. That still did not stop Assam police and forest officials from blatantly crossing the border last week, ostensibly chasing timber smugglers (though this is disputed by locals), and shooting dead five Meghalaya civilians.
All the political leaders asked the government to take steps so that there is no tension in those areas. They also expressed their concern over the Mukroh incident and condemned the killings. As a mark of respect, those present observed a two minutes’ silence.
The CM informed the gathering that the cabinet will finalise a list of places where border outposts will be set up and manned by Meghalaya police. “We will take all steps necessary to ensure that the safety and security of citizens in the border areas are maintained,” he said.
Tension rose in Shillong after the massacre, with mobs targetting police and innocent passersby. This also led to the state government cutting off mobile internet services (restored today), the Assam government cautioning against travel to Meghalaya (rescinded yesterday) and a sharp drop in tourist numbers.
Sangma also condemned the attacks that were carried out on civilians and policemen, especially the assaults that were carried out inside Shillong Civil Hospital following a candlelight vigil.
“Action will be taken against those attackers and those who are guilty will be punished as per the law. This is something that is completely unacceptable,” Sangma said. Although loud in its condemnation of the Mukroh Massacre, until now the government had been silent on the violence that followed in Shillong.
He said that permission was given since it was meant to be a peaceful candlelight vigil but things took an ugly turn due to a few individuals.
The Chief Minister also informed that the government has decided to foot all the medical bills of those injured in the Mukroh incident. It had already paid Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
It was also suggested to the state government that Meghalaya should increase and strengthen its presence all along the border to prevent Assam from overstepping the mark, carry out more development activities in the border and increase the number of police personnel deployed there.
Asked about the CBI inquiry into the Mukroh killings, Sangma said that the Union Home Minister had promised that it would be initiated immediately and the state government will follow up on this.
Sangma informed that a police platoon that is camping in Mukroh will be regularised and will continue to be based there. “We will not be moving the platoon posted there,” Sangma said, adding that a local judicial inquiry will be headed by Justice Vaiphei.
