Shillong, August 16: A newly formed socio-economic organisation in the state has condemned the violence that erupted in the city following the killing of surrendered HNLC leader Cherishstarfield Thangkhiew by the state police.
In a statement on Monday, New Dawn said it denounces violence of any kind, “whether incited by ‘outsiders’ or ‘insiders’”.
“We have seen in the past the tragedies that unfurled where many were taken from this world before their time. Besides this, state development stagnated on every front where extortions, intimidation, murder and destruction of property became the norm,” New Dawn said.
The organisation also cautioned the youth against manipulators with “hidden agenda”.
“We have witnessed many of our brothers and sisters leaving this state having given up a future here… think for yourself and don’t let others do it for you,” was New Dawn’s advice to the youth of the state.
In another press statement, the New Delhi-based Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) called for a CBI investigation into the killing of Thangkhiew on August 13.
“While the RRAG welcomes the resignation of the Home Minister Rymbui, given the nature of the encounter, only an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation can find out the truth,” said Suhas Chakma, director of RRAG.
“The standard procedure for thorough, effective and independent investigation on police encounter deaths laid down by the Supreme Court on 23.09.2014 including the police officer(s) concerned surrendering weapons for forensic and ballistic analysis, including any other material, as required by the investigating team must be followed,” he added.
State 7th on encounter list
Meghalaya ranked 7th in the country on police encounter deaths during 2014-2015 to 2018-2019 when 1,073 persons were killed. As per the NHRC data, the highest number of encounter deaths during this period took place in Chhattisgarh (248), followed by Assam (191), Uttar Pradesh (124), Jharkhand (75), Andhra Pradesh (71), Odisha (69), Meghalaya (56), Maharashtra (44), Haryana (28) and Madhya Pradesh (21).
“That Meghalaya, a State with a population of 30 lakhs as per 2011 census, ranked 7th in the country on police encounter deaths during 2014-2015 to 2018-2019 is a matter of grave concern and exposes the trigger-happy nature of the State police,” Chakma said.
