GUWAHATI:
The one-man commission led by Justice Rumi Kumari Phukan (retired judge of Gauhati High Court) constituted by the Assam government to probe into the causes and circumstances leading to the police firing, will visit the place of occurrence at Mukroh under Jirkiding police station in West Karbi Anglong district on December 28.
Six persons, including an Assam forest guard, were killed in the firing by Assam Police and forest personnel following a clash with a group of people from Meghalaya on November 22.
The commission was set up by the state home and political department to investigate the firing incident on November 22.
The probe panel conducted a public hearing at the Inspection Bungalow of the irrigation department at Donkaukam in West Karbi Anglong district on Tuesday.
However, there was a poor turnout of the individuals and organisations as the public hearing was conducted at short notice.
Some representatives of the organisations, including the Karbi Students Association (KSA), urged the Commission to extend the date for the public hearing and give chance to those who were present on the spot during the incident.
“We met the one-man commission. We are from Diphu. We did not give any statement today and we are not in a position to give any statement. There is no wide publicity on public hearings. We demand another date for the hearing. Sufficient time should be given to the organisations and individuals who know the causes and circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident,” said Kharsing Teron, president Joint Action Committee on Autonomous State (JACAS).
The commission, however, heard the statements of forest officials of Mukoilum and Mukroh.
The next hearing will be conducted on January 9.