NCP to institute fresh inquiry into firing

Shillong, Apr 18 (UNI) Former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma today said his party would institute fresh inquiry into the September 30, 2005 police firing in Meghalaya's Garo Hills if his party was not satisfied with the present findings of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

Mr Sangma's statement assumed significance in the wake of the Meghalaya government's decision to table the Judicial Commission of Inquiry tomorrow in the Assembly.

'' The NCP will institute fresh inquiry into the twin incident if the party and the people of Garo hills at large are not satisfied with the finding of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry constituted by the Congress-led government, '' Mr Sangma said.

The Cabinet was briefed on the ramification of the inquiry by Justice D N Baruah into the Williamnagar incident and the probe by Justice D N Chaudhuri into the Tura firing incident yesterday.

Nine people, including women, were killed, while scores injured on September 30, 2005, in police firing at Tura and Williamnagar over the issue of revamping and restructuring the Meghalaya Board of School Education.

At Tura, four people were killed in police firing and many injured. In Williamnagar, the district headquarters, East Garo Hills, another five were killed in police firing and several others injured.

UNI