Mawlai people seeks support of 35 MLAs for suspension of cops, Rymbui says govt to examine demand

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 31, 2021

Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Tuesday assured that the state government will examine the demand to suspend the Director General of Police (DGP) and two other police officers for ensuring a free and fair inquiry into the alleged killing of the ex-HNLC leader Cherishterfield Thangkhiew on August 13.

Rymbui was one among the 35 legislators from Khasi and Jaintia Hills who were served with a letter by the “Sur Ki Nong Mawlai” or the Voice of Mawlai people demanding just for Thangkhiew.

“In democracy, everybody has the right to express and we from the government our stand is to serve the people but there are rules and procedures that need to be followed. Therefore, the government will examine and see what needs to be done,” the minister told reporters.

He however said whatever the government is doing, it should not be just a knee-jerk reaction but it should bring satisfaction to everyone.

Asked, Rymbui said, “…we have to see the pros and the cons and being in the government to do anything there is a process so that process or what is the process we have to look from all angles we cannot just act in a haste and we should not think that to correct one wrong, if it is wrong then other wrong we will commit, so whatever we will do we will do in the best interest of the state.”

The residents of Mawlai under the banner of the Sur Ki Nong Mawlai on Tuesday submitted a letter to MLAs from Khasi and Jaintia Hills region irrespective of their party affiliation asking them to ensure that the three police officers are immediately suspended.

This came after the state government had instituted a judicial inquiry to probe into the police firing incident and had decided to take action only after receiving its report.

“We have decided to seek their (MLAs) support on the demand to suspend the DGP, SP of East Jaintia Hills and SP Traffic Shillong,” leader of the forum, Donbok Kharlyngdoh said.

“We understand the objective of the judicial inquiry set up by the state government on the killing of Cheristerfield but the government must understand that our demand was to pave the way for a free and fair investigation,” said Kharlyngdoh.

He said that recently the chief minister has expressed that the government will not be able to suspend anyone until the judicial inquiry is completed but the ‘Sur Ki Nong Mawlai’ is confident that if all MLAs with one voice convince the chief minister, anything can be done.

“We urged all MLAs of the state to show whether they are with the people of the state or you are with those involved in the killing of Cheristerfield and if you are with the people convince the chief minister to suspend three police officials,” he added.