Shillong, Nov 26: The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) activists who protested against the killings in Mukroh on Saturday asked Assam government to shut down the Forest Beat House located between Mukroh and Mokoilum.
The protest was against the recent killing of five Khasi villagers in a firing by Assam police at Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills district.
The protest holding red flags was held at the premises of the state central library followed by a candlelight vigil to pay respect to the departed souls and extend solidarity with the bereaved families.
HITO president Donbok Dkhar slammed both the Meghalaya and Assam governments for delaying to resolve the long pending boundary dispute.
He said the Centre’s decision to institute a CBI probe into the Mukroh firing incident is because it does not trust the Assam and Meghalaya governments.
On the claims of Assam that Mukroh village falls under their territory, Dkhar said, “You can say that the land belongs to you, me also I can say that the land belongs to me, but in the end this is nothing but will depend on the political will of both Assam and Meghalaya governments.”
Give festival money to victims
He asked the state government that the fund of Rs 2.5 crore sanctioned for the Cherry blossom festival should go to the families of the departed victims and those injured in the Mukroh firing.
“We submitted a memorandum to the Resident Commissioner of Assam House urging the Assam government to shut down the Forest Beat House manning Mukroh and Mokoilum till peace is restored in the border”, he said.
The HITO also reminded the resident commissioner about the 2003 incidents where six persons were brutally killed by the Karbi Anglong outfit ( KNV).
“Sadly nobody spoke about it because everyone was threatened by the murderer (KNV), he added.
