HNLC deaths: Lapang orders magisterial probe

Bowing to pressure from NGOs, the D D Lapang-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Government has ordered a magisterial...

Bowing to pressure from NGOs, the D D Lapang-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Government has ordered a magisterial probe into the Tuesday’s shootout that killed five suspected Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) members in the outskirts of Shillong.

East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner B Dhar said ADM T Lyngwa has been given the responsibility to probe into the causes that led to the death of the five HNLC militants. Reacting to the Khasi Students Union’s (KSU) statement that it would accept the body of one of the slain HNLC militants Korbar Syiem, Dhar said the Government can’t hand over the body to the students’ body. He said: “We have to follow rules and the district administration would wait for one more day for Korbar’s relatives to claim the body before it was disposed.” Syiem was a former KSU member.

Meghalaya Peoples’ Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) Secretary General Dino Dympep, however, has demanded a judicial probe by a sitting judge of the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court. He said the shootout has to be probed to find out if it was a “fake encounter”.

Police, however, is sticking to its gun and said the Special Operations Team of the Meghalaya Police had to open fire when its members were shot at by the militants. It claimed that the Bangladesh-based HNLC cadres, led by its commanders Saphir Hashah, Jop Pohtam and Sumar alias Bah Bah Hritick, had been trying to commit “various depredations” in Shillong and other parts of the state.

In a statement, police said they received intelligence inputs that hardcore HNLC cadres, armed with sophisticated weapons, had been sent by the outfit’s top brass from Bangladesh to Shillong to eliminate certain political persons and some surrendered members of the outfit.

Police said Anthony Mawthoh, who had surrendered before the East Khasi Hills SP on October 30, confirmed these intelligence inputs. Police said based on the intelligence inputs and confession of Mawthoh they had intensified checking and patrolling in the city. It was during this time that the militants opened fire from their vehicle at the patrol party. Police retaliated, killing five militants and injuring two policemen.