Army violated procedure in Meghalaya, say police

In a major development, the Meghalaya Police on Sunday claimed that the Indian Army violated Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) on November 25 night when its personnel mistook two civilians and shot them dead in Garo.

The statement was made through a press statement which said the Army unit “failed” to inform the local police about the operation. The incident has caused massive repercussions in Meghalaya.

“The Army has admitted that it had failed to inform the local police about its vehicle checking and left the bodies behind after the open firing. It was only on November 26 at 6 am that Army officials came to Kharkutta outpost and submitted a written FIR, where they mentioned about setting up of the vehicle check post based on reliable source information about the movement of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) cadres in the area,” said Meghalaya Inspector General of Police (operations) G H P Raju  in the press statement. 

Police sources said two FIRs were filed following complaints by parents and relatives of both the victims and investigation was on. The Meghalaya government has already ordered a magisterial probe. Meanwhile, civil groups have planned a protest rally at Kharkutta in North Garo Hills on December 1.

 Alphius Momin and Sweetbirth Marak from Rajasimla village were shot on November 25 night when they did not stop their bike during an Army checking at Konchikol village near Kharkutta.

An Army release had earlier claimed that the motorists were signalled to stop but they accelerated their bike and tried to escape.