Shillong, August 15: Lahkmen Rymbui on Sunday quit the Home portfolio hours after the city witnessed sporadic incidents of violence following the killing of former HNLC leader Cherishstarfield Thangkhiew.
The chief minister accepted his resignation.
In a short letter to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Rymbui said he was “shocked” at the killing of the surrendered HNLC leader “following the raid of police at his residence exceeding the lawful tenets of the law”.
“Considering the gravity of the situation, I would to request (sic) you to relieve the Home (Police) Department from me with immediate effect. This will facilitate free and fair enquiry taken by the government to bring out the truth of the incident. I propose judicial enquiry be conducted,” Rymbui wrote in his letter.
In an earlier video, Rymbui suggested judicial inquiry into the killing of the surrendered HNLC leader so that the truth about the “unfortunate incident” comes to the fore.
Rymbui, a UDP leader, was in Nongstoin and had a meeting with the party president and senior members after coming back to Shillong. “I have explained to them about the incident that happened on August 13. I have decided to write to the chief minister to relieve me from Home (Police) Department. This is to clear the doubt in the minds of the people when the government institutes any inquiry. I propose judicial inquiry,” the former minister said in the video.
Rymbui also holds Education, Forest and Border Area Development portfolios.
UDP president and Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh said the party members spoke with Rymbui and all felt “it was the right decision as a responsible leader and he has taken (the decision) in a matured manner”.
“We will request the chief minister to relieve him (Rymbui) from the Home portfolio,” Lyngdoh said.
