Shillong, Sept 14: Senior Congress legislator and Leader of Opposition Dr. Mukul Sangma has backed the demand of Sur Ki Nong Mawlai (Voice of the people of Mawlai) for immediate suspension of top police officials involved in the operation that led to the death of former HNLC leader Cherishterfield Thangkhiew in the wee hours of August 13, 2021 at his house in Mawlai Kynton Massar.
“The people are right in asking and demanding the suspension of the senior officers because they can have the power to influence the junior officials and the subordinates,” Dr. Sangma told reporters on Tuesday.
Stating one has to understand how the police organization works, he said, “The people of the state understand it very well that’s why they are precisely asking the government to ensure the so-called free and fair investigation otherwise it may not be free and fair. It will be a waste of time and you land up spending so much money.”
His statement comes in the backdrop of the ongoing protests by Sur Ki Nong Mawlai and people from across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region against the state government’s adamant attitude to suspend the top police officials.
The state government has maintained that action will only be taken after receiving the report of the judicial inquiry instituted to probe into the circumstances that led to the death of Thangkhiew.
