The Assam government has instituted a one-man inquiry commission, headed by a retired judge of Gauhati High Court, to ascertain the circumstances leading to the firing at Mukroh along the Assam-Meghalaya border that claimed lives of five persons from Meghalaya and a forest guard from Assam in the early hours of Tuesday.
The Assam Government also transferred SP of West Karbi Anglong.
Following the clash, Meghalaya suspended mobile internet services in seven districts of the state for 48 hours. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We have ordered a judicial investigation and have referred the matter to the CBI. The Superintendent of Police (SP) has been transferred and local police and forest officials have been placed under suspension.”
In a bid to avoid any untoward situation, Assam Police set up barricades at different areas along the border and did not allow vehicles, including goods carriers and passenger vehicles, to enter Meghalaya except the ones with a Meghalaya registration plate.
Following the clash, the Assam government announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the people who were killed in the firing incident.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Deputy CM Prestone Tyngsong along with other ministers will visit Mukroh village on Wednesday and will meet the families of the deceased. The chief minister also stated that they will give provide grants to the kin of the deceased.
According to reports, the truck was intercepted at the Meghalaya border in Moikrang in the West Karbi Anglong district by an Assam Forest Department team around 3 am. The truck tried to flee and a hot chase ensued. The forest guards eventually opened fire at the vehicle and punctured a tyre.
Three people – the truck driver, the handyman and another person – were apprehended and brought by the forest guards to Jirikinding. The forest guards informed the Jirikinding police station about the incident and asked for reinforcements.
A huge number of people from Meghalaya armed with weapons gathered at the spot around 5 am, PTI reported, quoting a senior police official. On reaching the location, the police team had to resort to firing in self defence, resulting in the death of six people, including the forest guard.
The deceased forest guard has been identified as Bidya Singh Lehte, while another forest guard, Abhimanyu, was injured in the incident.
