Shillong, Aug 14: Meghalaya government has decided to institute a magisterial inquiry into the killing of former leader of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, following public outrage against his encounter.

As criticism against the police action flooded the social media, the government maintained that the intention of the operation carried out on Friday morning was to arrest and not to kill the former militant leader in order to prevent another possible bomb blast in Shillong.

Addressing media persons, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “The government will institute a magisterial inquiry and once it is done, the report will be submitted to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which will then further take up the matter at their level.”

Termining the incident as ‘unfortunate’, Sangma said, “The intention was to arrest the concerned person (Cheristerfield) and unfortunately it led to a different circumstance and difference situation.”

He informed that the East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police had already submitted a report on the incident as mandated by the NHRC within 48 hours.

Appealing to all citizens to maintain peace, Sangma said whatever the government and the police is doing is in the interest of the safety of the citizens and the state.

Cheristerfield Thangkhiew was shot dead at his residence at Mawlai Kynton Massar early Friday morning.

Police alleged that the former militant leader had attacked the police team with a knife when they tried to enter his house during an operation to arrest him for his involvement in the two IED blasts at Laitumkhrah on August 10 and Khliehriat police reserve on July 14, respectively.