Shillong, Nov 23: AITC national spokesperson Saket Gokhale has filed a case with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the Government of Assam with regards to the firing by Assam police at Mukroh in West Jaintia Hills that killed six persons, including five from Meghalaya, on Tuesday.
“The case states that the five persons from Meghalaya killed in the unprovoked firing were unarmed and were members of Scheduled Tribe who were exercising their constitutional right to forest produce. The use of lethal force against unarmed persons by Assam forest officials was unprovoked and illegal,” said an AITC statement.
The case seeks an immediate independent probe as well as an order to the Assam government to withdraw all forces personnel who are currently stationed illegally within the territory of Meghalaya.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister and AITC chief Mamata Banerjee tweeted, “I am gravely anguished by the tragic instance of firing at Mukroh, Meghalaya, that claimed lives of 6 people. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this conflict. I earnestly pray that peace and calm prevails for the greater good.”
