Shillong, Jan 11: Political parties and several other organisations across the state have strongly condemned the death of an NGO member in an incident of assault at Goalgaon, Rajapara in West Garo Hills. They demanded for speedy justice in the case.
In a statement, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit sought harshest punishment for the perpetrators involved in the fatal assault on ACHIK member Dilseng M Sangma.
The party urged Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident and the broader issue of illegal mining in Meghalaya.
“State BJP appeals to the Chief Minister to ensure that this time around the administration goes beyond a few arrests. The entire case of illegal mining across sectors has to be investigated thoroughly…every individual involved brought to book,” BJP chief spokesperson M Kharkrang said in a statement on Sunday.
According to Kharkrang, this appalling occurrence, yet again brings to fore the menace of illegal mining in Meghalaya and the disasters that periodically arise from it.
Condemning the incident, the Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People’s (FKJGP), Garo Hills Zone, demanded for immediate action against the perpetrators.
“We demand that the people involved be immediately brought to justice and ex-gratia be provided to the bereaved family at the earliest,” FKJGP president Pritam Arengh said in a statement on Sunday.
The organization has called for a transparent and fair investigation, warning that any lapse will be viewed as insincerity towards the Garo community.
FKJGP has also demanded that the stone quarry allegedly involved in the incident be sealed and seized. The organization appealed to residents of the plain belt areas to cooperate with authorities in identifying and arresting those involved.
The opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) also condemned the incident demanding immediate arrest of the perpetrators.
“The party urges the authorities to nab and bring the person(s) responsible for the crime to justice,” VPP spokesperson Dr Batskhem Myrboh said in a statement on Sunday.
