Activist calls for independent inquiry into Thangskai incident

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 1, 2023

The National Human Rights Commission on August 30, 2023 has registered a complaint filed by social activist Joannes JTL Lamare against the incident that occurred at Thanskai village, East Jaintia Hills on August 24 at the premises of the M/s Meghalaya Cement Limited (Topcem).

The resident protested against the holding of a public hearing for the proposed expansion project of the company.

Lamare had petitioned the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) on August 25 with a copy to the NHRC where he urged the Commission to take stringent actions against the police personnel involved in the incident at Thangskai Village.

He also demanded that an Independent Inquiry should be constituted on the matter and not to entirely depend on the police reports and justifications.

In the letter, he stated, “Numerous Media Houses have highlighted the incidents in which it can be seen that Police personnel hitting, kicking the people thus injuring them seriously and the police have also resorted to firing of Tear Gas creating an atmosphere of chaos and commotion.”

In the letter, he provided links of the videos that have been circulating around showing the police lathi-charge and the firing of tear gas causing injury to both men and women.

He also pointed out that in the videos circulated certain people are involved in allegedly instigating the incident by shouting unparliamentary words.

Lamare referred to Sections of the Indian Penal Code 330, 331 & 348 that protect the rights of an individual against acts of cruel treatment by police officials and acts of torture.

He also said that free of cost medical treatment and reimbursement should be provided to the injured.