Khanapara: Assam and the Meghalaya governments have decided to handover the investigation of the Mukroh massacre to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Six Meghalaya residents, including a forest guard, were killed on November 22 last year following unwarranted shooting by the Assam Forest Protection Force in Mukroh village in West Jaintia hills district of Meghalaya.
Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, announced during a joint Press conference at Khanapara that in an effort to foster trust and alleviate the burden on officers from both states, it was decided to discontinue the judicial commission established by both states for the Mukroh incident.
“Instead, we will collectively request the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct an impartial investigation into the matter,” the Assam Chief Minister said. Both the governments proposed that the CBI conduct its investigation in a neutral location, avoiding registration in either Shillong or Guwahati.
Sarma highlighted the challenges faced by the judicial commissions, primarily stemming from uncooperative witnesses on both sides.
“To ensure a fair and unbiased inquiry, we believe that involving an independent agency is the most appropriate course of action,” the Assam Chif Minister said, adding that the decision to transfer the case to CBI aims to prevent any regional bias in the investigation.
Sarma also said the ongoing standoff at the Khanduli Police Control Room (PCR) between Assam and Meghalaya.
In response to the standoff, Assam police have established an outpost, and Meghalaya has done the same in close proximity, creating a confrontational situation.
To deescalate tensions, Assam police will deploy CRPFpersonnel at the outpost, and Meghalaya will relocate its outpost, ensuring the presence of a neutral police force in the area, the Assam CM said.
The two state governments have also reached at an agreement to resolve disputes in three specific areas.
Regarding the six areas where disputes have already been resolved, the Survey of India has completed surveys in the Hahim sector. Soon, border pillars will be erected in these areas, with both state governments accepting the demarcation.
