Five civilians, forest guard killed in police firing near Assam-Meghalaya border
Darpan News Desk IANS, 22 Nov, 2022 12:15 PM
Shillong/Guwahati, Nov 22 (IANS) At least six people, five civilians of Meghalaya and an Assam forest guard, died following "unprovoked" firing by Assam Police and state forest guards on Tuesday, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said.
The Chief Minister said that Assam Police and forest guards entered Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills District and resorted to "unprovoked" firing, killing the five civilians of Meghalaya.
An unknown forest guard of Assam was also killed in the firing.
Sangma said that the Assam Police and forest guards intercepted a truck carrying timber at Mukroh village and after that, a large number of people from the village reached the spot and surrounded the police and forest guards leading to the firing by the latter.
Strongly condemning the incident, Sangma said that state Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui visited the spot and an FIR has been registered by the Meghalaya Police.
According to the Chief Minister, Thal Shadap, 45, Nikhasi Dhar, 65, and Sik Talang 55, died on the spot, while Tal Nartiang, 40 and Chirup Sumer, 40 succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
"The Meghalaya Government strongly condemned the incident where the Assam Police and Assam forest guards entered Meghalaya and resorted to unprovoked firing. The state government would take all kinds of steps to ensure that justice is served, and action is taken against those responsible for this inhuman act," Sangma told the media.
He said that as a mark of respect and mourning for the deceased, the state government has decided to cancel all official festivals including the Shillong Cherry Blossom festival.
He also announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased. The state Cabinet would meet on Tuesday to decide on the next course of action.
"I appeal to all citizens of the state to pray for the departed souls and their families. I also appeal to our citizens to maintain peace and harmony in the state. The state government is taking all the necessary steps to ensure that law and order is maintained.
"We also had a meeting with traditional heads, Rangbah Shnongs and religious leaders, members of civil society and NGOs to discuss, inform and appeal for their support to stand together in these difficult times.
Meanwhile, Assam's West Karbi Anglong district's Superintendent of Police Imdad Ali earlier on Tuesday said that Forest Department officials intercepted a truck that was transporting illegal wood at around 3 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
"While the forest guards approached the truck to seize the illegal consignment, it tried to flee. The guards opened fire and punctured the tyre of the vehicle. Three people, including the driver and his assistant , were apprehended, but others managed to flee from the scene," he said.
The forest officials then informed the nearest police station at Zirikending and requested for additional forces. According to the police, when a team reached there, a large number of people from Meghalaya surrounded them with sharp-edged weapons.
"The angry mob demanded the release of those arrested. The police team had to open fire to control the violent mob. A forest home guard and some members of the Khasi community were killed in the firing," Ali said.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the incident, Meghalaya government has suspended mobile internet and data services for the next 48-hours from 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday in seven districts of the state - West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, Eastern West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills.
After the violent incident, several Assam vehicles were prevented from entering Meghalaya at Jorbat by police in a bid to prevent any untoward incident and public safety.
A pilot was killed and another injured when a Cheetah helicopter of Army Aviation crashed near Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang on Wednesday, officials said. Defence spokesman Lt. Col Mahendra Rawat said that the Cheetah helicopter, which was on a routine sortie, crashed at around 10 a.m. injuring both the pilots and they were immediately evacuated to nearest Military Hospital.
The arrested have been identified as Jaskaran Singh, lodged at Sub Jail in Goindwal Sahib, and Rattanbir Singh, who is out on bail. Police recovered 10 foreign-made pistols, including five .30 bore (made in China) and five 9mm (made in the US) along with eight magazines from both of them, besides a mobile phone concealed by Jaskaran Singh in his barrack.
The module is being jointly operated by Canada-based Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa, Pakistan-based Harvinder Singh Rinda and Italy-based Harpreet Singh, alias Happy. The arrested accused has been identified as Yograj Singh, alias Yog, a resident of Rajoke village in Tarn Taran district.
A police officer said that the narcotic substances were recovered from several soap cases kept in hidden chambers in an 18-wheel truck. The police have arrested the driver Hannan Ali. The vehicle was coming from Manipur and the consignment was most probably to be delivered in Guwahati.
Delhi Police had sought the custody of the arrested persons, which was granted by a duty magistrate on Tuesday. The four persons were arrested on Sunday night. Recently, a fresh case under the provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was lodged by the Delhi Police against the members of PFI, which was banned for five years by the Centre last week.
Punjab Police have arrested 5,824 drug smugglers, including 916 big fish, since July 5, Inspector General Sukhchain Singh Gill said here on Tuesday. He said 203 kg heroin was recovered. Additionally, 147.5 kg heroin was recovered by Punjab Police from seaports of Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the total effective recovery of heroin to 350 kg in just three months.
