The Gauhati High Court has ordered the state government of Meghalaya to pay ‘adequate compensation’ to the immediate families of four ‘innocent’ villagers who were killed in ‘cold blood’ in Garo hills by Meghalaya police way back on 13 February 2004.
A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Anima Hazarika while issuing the directive on compensation to be paid to the next of the kin of slain villagers observed that police resorted to ‘unprovoked firing’ leading to death of four innocent villagers. “The death of four innocent villagers shocks the conscience of the court,” the order read.
The court ordered the state government of Meghalaya to pay Rs 3 lakh each as compensation to the families of four slain villagers – Resen Sangma, Majendro Sangma, Jason Sangma and Saren Sangma. The court passed the order after perusing the enquiry report submitted by RP Marak, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dadenggiri Civil Sub-division in Garo Hills.
On the fateful day the victims along with a group of people including women and children gathered at the courtyard of Billestone Sangma, a Congress candidate in the election to Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, at Bikkonggre village in West Garo Hills district. The villagers who were supporters of the poll candidate, came there as the result of the district council election were to be declared the next day.
However, at around 10 PM in the night, a police team lead by Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Phulbari police station, TJ Synrem arrived at the residence of the poll candidate and dragged out the victims who were fast asleep. They were forced on their knees at the front porch of the residence and shot dead from point blank range on the assumption that they were militants.
No comments:
Post a Comment