Shillong, Sept 11:  The One Man Commission of Inquiry constituted by the state government to probe into the alleged gunning down of the former HNLC leader Cherishterfield Thangkhiew has issued a public notice asking people to furnish statements in connection with the incident.

The commission headed by the Chairperson of Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC), Justice T Vaiphei has given time till September 25 for people to submit their statements.

This was informed by the Secretary of the One Man Commission of Inquiry, MS Sangma on Friday.

Public notice

“The commission by this public notice calls upon all persons/officials, who are acquainted with the above incident which took place on August 13, at about 3 am at the residence of (L) C Thangkhiew at Mawlai Kynton Massar, Shillong to furnish to this commission a statement about the above incident and every statement so furnished shall reach the office of this commission, which is located at Meghalaya Human Rights Commission Campus, Old Arunachal Pradesh Secretariat, Cantonment Area near Anjali Petrol Pump, Shillong – 793001 on or before September 25, during office hour,” Sangma said in the public notice.

“Be it noted that the commission, in the absence of any rules framed in this behalf by the state government or till the time such rules are made by the latter, has decided to adopt the provisions of the Commission of Inquiry (Central) Rules, 1952, mutatis mutandis, to regulate its proceeding (including the fixing of places and times of its sittings and deciding whether to sit in public or in private) as contemplated by Section 8 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952,” he said.

Commission of Inquiry’s objectives

The One Man Commission of Inquiry has been constituted by the government of Meghalaya under section 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 to inquire into the facts and circumstances leading to the police action on August 13, 2021 resulting in the death of (L) C Thangkhiew, former general secretary of HNLC.

It was also asked to give a fact finding report as to the culpability or otherwise of the police action resulting in the death of (L) C. Thangkhiew and any other circumstances which, in the opinion of the Commission, are relevant.