Meghalaya CM Is Afraid To Take Action In Mukroh Firing Incident, Alleges TMC Leader Abhishek Banerjee

Abhishek Banerjee alleged that Sangma did not take requisite action to ensure justice for those killed in the incident fearing action by central agencies on one pretext or another.

TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee

The TMC leader alleged that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma failed to take the necessary steps to ensure justice for those killed in the incident fearing action by central agencies on one pretext or another.

The TMC national general secretary said that nowhere in the country an incident like the one in Mukroh firing has happened.

He added, "Three months have passed since the incident but there is no action against the officers who fired at innocent people. Isn't it the chief minister's responsibility to act when innocent people are being fired upon? The CM should have resigned for failing to take action."

Banerjee further stated, "I have categorically said that the NPP will draw a blank in Garo Hills, which has 24 seats. Conrad Sangma is losing his own seat -- South Tura. Six months back, the party said Trinamool Congress has no base here. But now, if you look at their speeches, tweets, and statements, you will see that their day begins and ends with attacks on TMC. This shows how rattled they (NPP leaders) are."

The TMC leader claimed that he noticed no streetlight near the offices of the district collectorate, DIG, treasury office, and Tura police station. 

Taking a dig at the CM he asked, "If the chief minister cannot bring light to his own constituency, how can he bring development to the state?"

Addressing the public rally, he dredged up the incident of firing in Mukroh, and stated that West Bengal, too, shares border with Assam, "but no one would dare to shoot five people there" as Mamata Banerjee happens to be the chief minister of the state.

Trouble began at the border of the two states after Assam forest guards stopped a Meghalaya truck carrying what was suspected to be illegally felled timber on November 22. Five tribal villagers from Meghalaya were shot dead by Assam police during the altercation after an Assamese forest guard was killed.

According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the police shooting in Mukroh was done in self-defense and to protect government properties.

Banerjee said that Sangma refrained from taking any action due to the fear of repercussions from the agencies.

He alleged, "The Assam CM is from the BJP. If Meghalaya CM would have sent a notice to the Assam CM, Conrad Sangma would have received a notice from the ED. To save himself from ED-CBI, he is sacrificing his own people," he alleged.

The TMC leader further added, "Why should Meghalaya bow down in front of Delhi and Assam? I don't think Meghalaya is a part of the northeast; instead, it is a part of the East. As the sun rises in t development will begin from the East and from Meghalaya."

According to Banerjee, the nephew of the West Bengal CM, if the TMC is voted to power in the state, the accused in the Mukroh firing will be arrested.

On February 22, Mamata Banerjee would visit Meghalaya, he added.

(With inputs from PTI)