Meghalaya: Judicial probe to examine family members in ex-HNLC chief’s killing

Shillong: Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) chairperson Justice T Vaiphei on Saturday said the next hearing scheduled for March 11 and 12 will examine Late Cherishterfield Thangkhiew’s family, who are the witnesses in the case of his alleged extra-judicial killing.

The judicial inquiry commission is probing the death of former Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) militant Cherishterfield Thangkhiew. The probe was ordered by the state government on August 16 last year after public outcry over the police’s action and allegations of a ‘fake encounter’. 

Justice Vaiphei said the medical officer who conducted the post mortem of Late Cherishterfield Thangkhiew was examined on Saturday. The Commission has also completed examining all the five state government witnesses.

The first two state government witnesses – Idashisha Nongrang, the acting Director General of Police and Jagpal Singh Dhanoa, the Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills – were examined on February 4, Justice Vaiphei said.

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Dhanoa was among the police officials who led the operation on August 13 at Kynton Massar locality in Shillong, which led to a retaliatory firing (as claimed by the police) that killed Thangkhiew.

As part of the inquiry, the MHRC chairperson also visited the victim’s house at Kynton Massar, Mawlai, on February 5. 

“The victim’s family will produce their witnesses in the next hearing. We are also working on holidays to speed up the inquiry,” the MHRC chairperson said, adding that the Commission hopes to complete the probe within the next three months.

The Commission was given a three month extension on February 20.  Earlier, the state government had given a one month extension on November 20, 2021.

Meghalaya ‘encounter’: Cherishterfield Thangkhiew, ex-HNLC militant, killed in Shillong