The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has taken a suo moto cognizance on the death of three men from Assam, whose charred bodies were discovered in East Garo Hills.
The MHRC has issued a notice today to the Director General of Police to submit an action taken report within a month.
The burned bodies of three men identified as Jomor Ali, Noor Mohammad and Zahidul Islam of Assam were recovered by police from inside a pit in a jungle near the village link road connecting Rogu Alda village under Rongjeng police station, around 1.5 km from NH-217 connecting Dudhnoi – Damra – Rongjeng – Baghmara, yesterday.
The incinerate car they travelled in was also found near the pit.
Police were alerted by the relatives of one of the victims that their mobile phones were switched off after having breakfast in a jungle area in Garo Hills.
Police said the three had left home for Meghalaya on April 15 late evening as they were hired by some unknown person (s) for some important work.
“Prima facie, it appears to be a case of criminal rivalry among car lifters and cattle thief groups,” Superintendent of Police, Stephen Aleric Rynjah had said.
Meanwhile, the rights panel also asked the DGP to submit a detailed report within 15 days on the ostracism of a woman, who hails from Lumlakhait village in West Jaiñtia Hills, by the dorbar shnong accusing her of practising witchcraft.
A FIR was lodged against the functionaries of the dorbar shnong, which included the waheh shnong Edward Shadap, his son Edmond Laloo and secretary Tisis Phira, for giving their approval to ostracise three villagers—Biktor Dhar, Balen Dhar and Meloris Dhar—for practising taro (meaning witchcraft in the local dialect).
It was reported that the three were not allowed to take up agricultural activities in the village.
