SHILLONG, Oct 5 � The Movement for Indigenous Peoples� Rights and Livelihood Meghalaya (MIPRL) has demanded a judicial probe into the killing of two individuals in police firing, stating that the administration was trying to �cover-up� the unfortunate incident.
On September 24, two persons died after police opened fire on a mob trying to block roads as part of the economic blockade called by the MIPRL at Mukhep, East Jaintia Hills district.
MIPRL alleged that the �truth would be found out only by an independent judicial enquiry by a sitting or retired High Court Judge since the district administration is conducting a massive cover up of the whole incident.�
It claimed that the police didn�t give warning on that fateful day that it would open fire. Moreover, claims by the police that some of the people from within the mob had fired on the police are totally wrong.
�There was no public announcement for the public to disperse or to inform the gathered group that firing would take place. All the bullets recovered belong to weapons carried by the police and no police personnel was injured due to the alleged firing,� MIPRL vice chairman Erwin K Syiem Sutnga claimed.
The organisation also said that an enquiry should be conducted by the CBI and all officials involved in the firing should be suspended and transferred out of Jaintia Hills. It further said that allegations of Shillong MP Vincent Pala being involved in the activities of MIPRL is untrue.
Meanwhile, the MIPRL is fighting against the coal mining ban ordered by the National Green Tribunal and also the imposition of royalty on coal transportation. The Tribunal banned coal mining after petitions were filed that unscientific mining was damaging the environment.
