MPHRC welcomes govt decision for judicial probe into killing of Thangkhiew

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 17, 2021

The Meghalaya Peoples’ Human Rights Council (MPHRC) has welcomed the state government’s decision to institute a judicial probe into the alleged raid and encounter jointly conducted by the police team of East Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills districts, that resulted in the death of the former HNLC leader Cheristerfield Thangkhiew in his house at Mawlai-Kynton Massar on August 13.

“We believe that a free, fair and impartial investigation is not only the domestic remedy available but the principle of natural justice that the government decides in its Term of Reference (TOR) for the enquiry should be clear and specific” said MPHRC Chairman Dino DG Dympep.

“We stand firm by the principle of Human Rights Jurisprudence that in such judicial enquiry as announced by the government the head of the enquiry should be a sitting Judge of the High Court and not a retired Judge in this instant case and for which the true value of human rights will only be perceptible from the government since they have the only moral obligation to do so in this instant case” Dympep added.

The MPHRC chairman further said that the Council strongly reject the suo-motu cognizance notice issued by the state government funded Human Rights Commission to the chief secretary MS Rao on the ground that one member in this commission is none other but a retired police chief.

 “We have an apprehension that the credibility of this Commission to enquire into this particular case of human rights abuses by the state apparatus will not ensure a free, fair and impartial justice leading to the destruction of all human rights standards and principles that this Commission is supposed to do,” Dympep concluded.