Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has condemned the triple murders in East Garo Hills and urged the citizens of Assam and Meghalaya to refrain from resorting to “vigilante justice” or any form of retaliation.
The burnt bodies of Jomor Ali, Noor Mohammad and Zahidul Islam of Assam were found in a pit in the jungle near the village link road connecting Rogu Alda, around 1.5km from National Highway 217 connecting Dudhnoi–Damra–Rongjeng–Baghmara.
Police suspect the deaths to be due to criminal rivalry between car lifters and cattle thieves. At least two of the deceased were wanted in Assam on suspicion of various criminal offences.
In a statement, the Chief Minister said that the discovery of the three charred bodies buried amid the ashes of their burned vehicle “is a stark reminder of the brutality that can shake our communities.”
“I appeal to each and every one of you, both in Assam and Meghalaya, to refrain from resorting to vigilante justice or any form of retaliation. Let us not allow the seeds of discord and animosity to take root in our hearts. I urge you to resist the temptations of those who seek to exploit this tragedy for their own nefarious agendas, whether through communal incitement or spreading of misinformation,” he said.
The Chief Minister assured that the authorities of Meghalaya have taken swift action by initiating a thorough investigation into the matter.