Reconstitute inquiry in Williamnagar, NCP

Shillong, Apr 20 (UNI) Terming the judicial Commission of Inquiry report into the September 30, 2005, police firing at Meghalaya's Williamnagar as 'biased', the Opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today demanded a fresh probe.

Justice (Retd) D N Baruah, probed the Williamnagar incident where five people, including a woman, were killed and scores injured, The Garo Students' Union (GSU) also condemned the report saying the Commission was 'partial'.

''The government should reconstitute a fresh inquiry into the Williamnagar incident in the interest of the public who had to suffer the merciless firing of the police,'' NCP MLA Edmund K Sangma told UNI here.

He said most of the public memorialists' did not cooperate with justice Baruah because of his 'negative' attitude towards the public. ''He (Baruah) had himself mentioned in his report that there was no cooperation from the public while conducting the probe,'' Mr Sangma claimed.

However, the NCP legislator said the party was still studying the report of Justice D N Chowdhury into incidents of police firing at Tura where four people were killed and many injured.

Recalling government assurance to institute a fresh inquiry into the firing, GSU Khasi Hills Zone Aldo Sangma said the government had assured the student body to start a fresh probe once justice (retd) D N Baruah submitted his report.

''Now that the government had tabled the report of the judicial Commission of Inquiry probing the police firing at Tura and Williamnagar in the Assembly, the government should comply with their assurance,'' Mr Sangma said.

Chief Minister D D Lapang yesterday tabled both the reports of judicial Commission of Inquiry in the Assembly.

Altogether, nine people, including women, were killed while scores injured in twin police firings at Tura and Williamnagar over the issue of revamping and restructuring the Meghalaya Board of School Education, which has its headquarters at Tura, West Garo Hills district.

UNI