Shillong, May 20: The One Man Commission of Inquiry on Friday submitted its report into the alleged gunning down of the former Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) leader Cheristerfield Thangkhiew on August 13.
The report was handed over to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma by the Chairperson of the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Justice T Vaiphei, who is heading the Commission.
Speaking to reporters, Justice Vaiphei refused to reveal the findings of the Commission and said “that is top confidential”. He, however, informed that it took six months time to complete the report after conducting 20 hearings.
Earlier, three months extension was also given after the deadline to submit the report expired. At least 12 witnesses were examined by the Commission,.
“I have examined five witnesses including the medical officer who conducted the post mortem examination and… four police officers. From the family of the victim’s side I examined five witnesses then another two as commission witnesses who are the Investigation Officer (IO) of the Khliehriat IED explosion case and other is the IO of Mawlai case where the incident took place on (August 13, 2021),” Justice Vaiphei said.
Stating that the ball is now in the court of the government, the chairperson of the MHRC said that he has done his best and is satisfied with the report submitted to the government.
“As far as I am concerned I have done my level best to finish it and to the best of my abiliities no stone was left unturned to make the best possible report. Now, the ball is in the court of the government,” he stated.
Govt to examine the report thoroughly
Speaking with reporters, Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma said the report is with the State Government and it will be examined properly .
“The report has been submitted today, inspite of his (Retired Chief Justice T Vaiphe) many responsibilities he has managed to complete the report. Took a few months extra but he has submitted the report. So the report is with us now, the political department will go through and properly examine it,” he said.
Mentionably, the government had constituted the judicial inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act after pressure groups demanded an independent probe into the “fake encounter”.
