SHILLONG, Feb 8 � The Meghalaya Government today announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs. 7.5 lakh each to the next of kin of two jail officials killed in Garo Hills by militants, besides ordering a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
The magisterial inquiry will be headed by the East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Vijay Kumar Mantri and a report will be submitted to the Government within a month�s time.
Moreover, the families of the jail officials � assistant jailor Neil Warjri and warder Sarai Thabah � will continue to get the monthly salaries of the deceased till the date of their retirement from service.
The two jail officials were killed on Saturday after militants stormed the Williamnagar Jail and opened fire. The Garo National Liberation Army and the breakaway factio of the Achik National Volunteers Council, which were blamed for the killings, have both denied their involvement in the incident.
However, today NGOs led by the Khasi Students� Union took out a black flag march from its office at Jaiaw, protesting against the killings and marched to the Secretariat. Later, KSU president Daniel Khyriem met the Chief Secretary, WMS Pariat.
The NGO leader demanded that a family member of the deceased be provided a government job, besides demanding compensation for the deaths. The KSU further demanded that all Khasi employees posted in Garo Hills be provided sufficient security.
After the meeting, Khyriem told reporters that the Government has agreed to pay a compensation of Rs. 7.5 lakh each to the families of the deceased. The Government also assured that it would try provide adequate security to all Khasis serving in the districts of Garo Hills.
Meanwhile, there has been widespread condemnation of the killings with the leader of the Opposition, Conrad Sangma calling upon the Government to �take firm action and bring the culprits to book as early as possible.�
Strongly condemning the �inhumane attack of the jail personnel,� Sangma said that if such a �dastardly attack� can happen at a high-security zone, there are reasons for the common people to be fearful. He also sent out his condolences to the bereaved families.
