Twin firing incidents referred to CBI: Meghalaya CM

Shillong, Nov 12 (UNI) The Meghalaya government has referred the twin police firing incidents at Tura and Williamnagar of Garo Hills on September 30, 2005, to the CBI, Chief Minister Donkupar Roy informed the Assembly today.

''The government has officially requested the Centre on September 22 to entrust the CBI to probe into the firing incidents,'' Dr Roy said, while intervening in the matter during Question Hour.

The Chief Minister informed the House that the government was awaiting a reply from the Centre on the issue. He further stated that his government referred the case to the CBI following the demand of the Garo Student's Union and other NGOs to hand over the case to the CBI.

''We want to show to the people of the state that we are fair and neutral and we would not hide anything. Since a group of people felt that they are not happy with the report of the Commission we agreed that the case be given to the CBI,'' Dr Roy said, while replying to a query posed by Dr Mukul M Sangma.

When pointed out whether the two reports of the Commissions headed by Justice (Retd) D N Chaudhary and Justice (Retd) D N Baruah on the two firing incidents will be treated as null and void, the Chief Minister replied in the negative.

''The report is report. Question of treating them as null and void does not arise,'' he stated.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister H S Lyngdoh faced a barrage of questions from the Opposition on the issue, but failed to tender satisfactory replies, which led to the intervention of the Chief Minister.

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