Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong today appealed for public calm on the one year anniversary of the death of former militant Cherishterfield Thangkhiew, which falls on Saturday.
Thangkhiew was shot dead by police in a pre-dawn raid on his home in Mawlai Kynton Massar on August 13, 2021. He was suspected of involvement in the IED blast that rocked Laitumkhrah a few days prior. That attack was claimed by the outlawed Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council, which Thangkhiew used to lead. His death led to several days of unrest in the city, centred on Mawlai.
Recently, local organisations voiced their displeasure over the state government’s delay in releasing the inquiry report into Thangkhiew’s death; the government’s argument is that the report needs to be placed in the Assembly first.
The Sur ka Bri U Hynñiewtrep appealed to residents of Mawlai to put up black flags instead of the tricolour on August 13 in memory of ex-militant.
“They can do whatever they need to do or carry out any programme they feel like to honour the late Cherishterfield but law and order must not be disrupted,” Tynsong said.
The police are on high alert to guard against law and order problems in relation to the death anniversary.
Tynsong sought to placate those waiting for the inquiry report by promising that it will be laid before the house on the very first day of the session, on September 9.
Meanwhile, on the suggestion that a special session of the Assembly should have been called to discuss the report, the Deputy CM said that such a thing “would not be so simple”.
“It is a matter of a few more days, so we have to be patient and the report will be tabled on the first day of the session, which will be on September 9,” he added.
