Killing of HNLC leader Cherish S Thangkhiew discussed in Meghalaya Assembly

Adopt measures so that surrendered militants do not go back to their earlier ways: Dr Mukul Sangma tells government

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Leader of Opposition, Dr Mukul Sangma on Tuesday, while taking part in the Question Hour during the autumn session of the Meghalaya Assembly, said that the government should adopt measures to ensure that surrendered militants do not go back to their earlier ways.

On the issue of the killing of former Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) general secretary Cherish S Thangkhiew and the subsequent allegation that he was involved in the August 10 IED blast in Laitumkhrah market and in East Jaintia Hills district in July, the Leader of Opposition said that the government was dealing with a militant who had surrendered and assimilated back into the mainstream. "Did the government at any point of time, after receiving such input that Cherish S Thangkhiew was involved in any kind of activities which is contrary to the law, made an attempt to call on him by the kind of procedure to deal with such surrenderees?"Dr. Sangma asked.

The leader of opposition also asked whether in view of this unexpected incident (killing of Thangkhiew) the government would now make an effort to ensure that a mechanism was adopted so that the surrendered militants do not slip back.

Earlier, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said that a judicial inquiry had been ordered to probe all the aspects of the incident and the government wanted to come clear on what happened.

Replying during the question hour, Rymbui also said that there was credible intelligence input that between the intervening nights of August 12 to August 15 there might be blasts in the State. Rymbui said that after the August 10 blast there was information that ex-HNLC militant Cherish S Thangkhiew was involved in the explosion. "That is why the police had to act so that necessary security and safety of the citizens of the State could be ensured," the Home Minister said.

Congress legislator from West Shillong, Mohendro Rapsang asked what was the necessity of the police to go at 3 am to arrest Thangkhiew. "If he was a suspect, wasn't it necessary for the police to ask him to come to the police station for further enquiry," Rapsang said.

In reply, Rymbui said that based on the urgency of the matter and the credible inputs which they had, the police went at an appropriate time.

Meanwhile, Mawlai legislator, Process T Sawkmie, asked whether police had instructions to arrest or kill Thangkhiew. In reply, the Home Minister said that police had no right to kill any person, their job was to prevent the crime, arrest the culprit, to gather evidence and produce it in the court.

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