Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma demanded an NIA and CBI probe into the Assam-Meghalaya border firing incident
Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI : A major fire broke out at Lahrijan on the Assam-Nagaland border on November 23. Notably, the flames engulfed the entire area and destroyed more than half a dozen business establishments and 200 homes. However, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, four fire tenders each from Dimapur, including Bokajan, have been pressed into service to douse the flames and police officials from Khatkhati police station have been deployed to control the situation. On the other hand, a vehicle bearing Assam registration number was set on fire by unidentified miscreants in Jhalupara area of Shillong in Meghalaya on November 23 as the situation remained volatile following a firing incident along the Assam-Meghalaya border that claimed six lives.
The Assam Police transferred West Karbi Anglong district Superintendent of Police Imdad Ali following a violent incident on November 22 at Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills bordering West Karbi Anglong district. As per the latest reports, the Assam government has decided to hand over the case to the central agency. Earlier in the day on November 22, the Assam government had ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident, with a retired judge of the Gauhati High Court scheduled to probe the matter. Briefing reporters after the firing incident at Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills bordering Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the cabinet will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday, November 24.
Sangma also informed that the cabinet will also seek an NIA or CBI probe into the firing incident in Mukroh village. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma further informed that the delegation will meet the National Human Rights Commission and also submit a report on the firing incident to the commission. The Meghalaya cabinet has decided to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) as an FIR has been registered and the DIG of eastern range will head the SIT even as the state government has appealed to the Government of India that a central probe agency should take over the investigation.
