Guwahati: The shooting incident that took place in the Mukroh village of Meghalaya on November 22 has been brought to the attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The NHRC has requested recommendations for preventative measures to be made in regions where there are border conflicts between neighbouring states from the Union Home Secretary and the Chief Secretary of the Government of Assam.
They have been instructed to look into and recommend ways to stop these instances from happening in the future, especially in regions where there are border issues. The NHRC has given the response two weeks to be submitted.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had asked the NHRC to look into the firing incident after it occurred.
The Commission has noted that it appears that this incident occurred as a result of the wider, long-standing border conflict between Assam and Meghalaya.
Prima facie, it would appear that such an incident would have been avoided had this dispute been resolved. Police must exercise restraint in these circumstances, regardless of the nature of the dispute between the States.
According to reports, the Assam Police and Assam Forest Guards pursued a truck transporting lumber as a result of the incident. The forces stopped the truck near Mukroh village. The residents of Mukroh grew angry when the Assam Police arrived in their village. They surrounded the Assam Police and Assam Forest Guards as a result of the shooting.
At least six people, including an Assam forest guard lost their lives in the firing incident.