SHILLONG, NOV 29:
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took note of the Mukroh firing incident on Tuesday and requested the Union Home Secretary and the Chief Secretary of Assam to recommend ways to stop situations like this from happening in regions where there are boundary conflicts between neighbouring states.
This happened after the Meghalaya government recently requested the National Human Rights Commission’s assistance in investigating the November 22 shooting in Mukroh, West Jaintia Hills that left six people dead, including five Khasi villagers and one Assam forest official.
According to a statement from the NHRC, the Commission has seen that it appears that the wider, long-running border conflict between Assam and Meghalaya is what caused this incident to occur.
“Prima-facie, it appears that, had this dispute been settled, such type of incident would have been averted. Whatsoever may be the dispute between the states, police has to use restrain in such situations. Therefore, it would want to get examined the SOP in operation, if any, about firing by Armed Forces/police in areas of a border dispute between neighbouring states,” the statement said.
Accordingly, the Commission has transmitted the memorandum to the Home Secretary, Government of India, and the Chief Secretary, Government of Assam, Dispur.
“They are to examine and evolve mechanisms/suggest measures to prevent such types of incidents, particularly in areas in which there is a border dispute between neighbouring states. The response is expected in two weeks,” it said.
The statement said allegedly, the incident ensued chasing of a truck carrying timber, by the Assam police and Assam forest guards. The truck was detained in Mukroh village by these forces.
The villagers of Mukroh became agitated upon the entry of the Assam police in their village. They surrounded them, consequent upon this firing took place.