Shillong, Nov 29: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday took cognizance of the Mukroh firing incident and asked the Union Home Secretary and Assam Chief Secretary to suggest measures to prevent such incidents in areas of border disputes between neighbouring states.
This came after the Meghalaya government had recently submitted a memorandum to the NHRC for its intervention into the killing of six persons which included five Khasi villagers and one Assam forest official in a firing by the Assam police and forest guards at Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills District on November 22, 2022.
A statement issued by the NHRC said the Commission has observed that it seems this incident has taken place due to the border dispute between the two states – Assam and Meghalaya, which is a larger issue, pending for long.
“Prima-facie, it appears that, had this dispute been settled, such type of incident would have been averted. Whatsoever may be the dispute between the States, Police has to use restrain in such situations. Therefore, it would want to get examined the SOP in operation, if any, about firing by Armed Forces/Police in areas of a border dispute between neighbouring States,” it said.
Accordingly, the Commission has transmitted the memorandum to the Home Secretary, Government of India, and the Chief Secretary, Government of Assam, Dispur.
“They are to examine and evolve mechanisms/suggest measures to prevent such types of incidents, particularly in areas in which there is a border dispute between neighbouring States. The response is expected in two weeks,” it said.
The statement said allegedly the incident ensued chasing of a truck carrying timber by the Assam Police and Assam Forest Guards. The truck was detained in Mukroh village by these Forces.
The villagers of Mukroh became agitated upon the entry of the Assam Police in their village. They surrounded the Assam Police and Assam Forest Guards, consequent upon this firing took place.
In the incident, four were found dead on the spot. Whereas, the other four villagers were seriously injured and hospitalized. Out of them, two villagers succumbed to injuries in the hospital.
