Mukul ‘examining options’ to probe twin killings

Shillong: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma on Saturday said the state government was ‘examining other options’ amid demands for a CBI probe into the killing of two civilians in East Jaintia Hills district on September 24.
“We have started examining other options available while we wait for the magisterial inquiry report before taking any decision on another inquiry,” Sangma told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting here on Friday evening.The report is expected by the end of October.
The chief minister added that maintaining law and order was the priority of the government. “We will also ensure that justice is delivered,” he added.
Curfew was imposed in East Jaintia Hills after two civilians, including a woman, were shot dead in an alleged police firing on September 24 during a blockade by the Meghalaya Indigenous People’s Right to Livelihood (MIPRL) against the ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal on unscientific coal and limestone mining in the state.
Chief secretary PBO Wajri said probe was on to ascertain who was responsible for the firing as the mob was also armed with weapons. The incident occurred as a result of a confrontation between police personnel and members of MIPRL. A mob had also attacked vehicles injuring superintendent of police M K Dkhar.
Several NGOs have been mounting pressure on the state government to hand over the probe to the CBI as they did not have much faith in the magisterial inquiry report.