Shillong, Aug 27: Hundreds gathered at the Mawlai petrol pump junction in Shillong city on Friday evening to take part in the candlelight vigil organised by ‘Ka sur ki nong Mawlai’ (Voice of the people of Mawlai) to demand justice for slain ex-HNLC militant Cherishterfield Thangkhiew.
Voice of the people of Mawlai is a conglomeration of various organisations but has recently been spearheading the demand for justice for Thangkhiew. Thangkhiew was killed in the wee hours of August 13, 2021 in an encounter at his house in Mawlai-Kynton Massar. The family members and several people have called the killing a fake encounter, raising questions of the time of the raid and in the manner how it was conducted.
The candlelight vigil kicked off from Mawlai petrol pump and ended at Mawlai Stand Bus. Men and women from all walks of life took part in the vigil. They took part in sloganeering condemning the MDA Government and also the Meghalaya police while waving their mobile phone torchlight.
Earlier in the day, around 10 AM, a signature campaign was carried out. A white sheet with Thangkhiew’s picture was later painted with several signature’s signed on it.
The voices kept demanding ‘justice for Bah Che’. Simultaneously, there were condemnation for the Home Minister for his failure to suspend the police officials involved in encounter of Thangkhiew.
On August 25, effigies of three minister’s from the government and top cops were burnt. Then also, the NGOs’ leaders had continued their demand for the suspension of police officers involved in the operation while the judicial inquiry is being carried out. The voice of the people of Mawlai have reiterated that they will not to be part of the peace committee recently setup by the government.
