Shillong: Congress has demanded that the entire cabinet of Meghalaya, led by chief minister Conrad K Sangma should step down immediately owning moral responsibility for the Mukroh incident.
Six people, including five innocent villagers were gunned down on November 22 by the Assam Police at Mukroh in West Jaintia hills district of Meghalaya.
PN Syiem, working president of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) said the state government is responsible for failing to protect the lives of the Khasi villagers residing along the inter-state border.
“The incident took place at Mukroh, within the territory of Meghalaya, Assam police fired indiscriminately at the innocent villagers. The incident has raised a big question about the security of our border residents,” Syiem said.
The Congress leader said the state government did not react when people raised concerns about Assam government setting up a police outpost at Saba in West Jaintia Hills.
Syiem said the personal security officers, who guard the bungalows of ministers should be sent to the border to provide security to the villagers.
The Congress leader demanded government jobs for the families of those who lost their lives in Assam Police firing at Mukroh.
Echoing Syiem, MPCC vice president Ronnie V Lyngdoh also alleged the National People’s Party (NPP), which heads the state’s coalition government, is not concerned about the safety and security of the border villagers.
He criticised chief minister Conrad K Sangma for allegedly not condemning the Assam government action. “He (the chief minister) did not utter a word against the Assam government,” Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), an ally of the ruling NPP, will approach chief minister Conrad K Sangma to set up a police outpost along the inter-state border near Mukroh.
The PDF will also demand rising of a border regiment or border battalion to ensure safety of the border residents.
PDF working president Banteidor Lyngdoh demanded that those responsible for killing five innocent people should serve jail term in Meghalaya.
