Shillong. In Meghalaya, the opposition Congress has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma over the Mukroh massacre carried out by the Assam Police in West Jaintia Hills district. Official sources gave this information on Saturday.
Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee working president Pinshangain Siem said, “We have unanimously resolved to demand that the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers resign and take responsibility and other people who can lead the government and inter-state relations with Assam Let the decisions be taken for the safety of the people at the border.”
His resignation will also pave the way for a new government, which is committed to the safety and security of the residents of Meghalaya bordering Assam, he added. Six people, including five from Meghalaya, were shot dead by the Assam Police on November 22 in Mukroh village of West Jaintia Hills district, bordering Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district, after Assam forest guards seized a truck loaded with timber. was taken into custody.
Describing the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) as ‘weak’ in its handling of Assam, the former Congress MLA said, “What is the use of border talks if our people are killed inside the state?” There is no point in border talks.” Significantly, boundary talks are underway between the two sides to resolve several areas of differences.
Siem accused the Assam Police, saying that they were smuggling wood to Mukroh villagers. “Residents here claim that the Assam police and forest officials regularly extort money from them for movement for agricultural, trade-related work,” he said. President Siem said that those who were shot were not involved in illegal timber smuggling, as they were farmers.
So it is wrong to say that they were smugglers, just a ploy by the Assam Police to create confusion in the minds of the people. Welcoming the Centre’s decision to initiate a CBI probe into the Mukroh incident, Siem said he would also be happy if the central agency probed ‘illegal coal transportation’ in the state.
