Is it a fake encounter?

OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, March 25: The foul cry raised by the civil society on the March 17th alleged fake encounter between the joint team of the state police and the Army with the AMEF at Petchong village, North Garo Hills has gained more impetus.

Two villagers mely Dilth Momin and Robin Momin disclosed before newsmen on Wednesday that the two alleged AMEF militants are simple labourers who were gunned down within minutes after they left their house.

Divulging that the deceased mely Selba Sangma and Jackie Arengh had gone hunting together with them before returning to their house at around 1.30 am, Dilth Momin said,“ Soon after they left, we heard gunshots. We could not even come out because a man who spoke in the local language cautioned us to stay indoor.”

“By 6.30 am our houses were cordoned by the armed uniform men and 15 metres away lies the two bodies were seen with a pistol by their side,” Dilth Momin stated, while pondering on how can these two poor labourers in someone’s field be branded as militants.

Moreover, Dilth Momin and Robin Momin were taken to Damra Bhakrapur army camp before being taken to Dadubi police station at around 11 am.  The duo confided that they were severely harassed by the uniform men besides being forced to carry the bodies of the two slain villagers.

Selba sangma left behind his wife, a son and two daughters while Jackie Sangma left has his wife to fend his two sons and a daughter. Interestingly, if not for the latest killings, the innocent villagers have been complaining against the armed forces for tormenting them in the me of counter insurgency operations. “The army comes and speaks in Hindi. They harassed us on simple grounds that we don’t understand the language,” stated another village.

The army personnel involved in the alleged fake encounter belongs to the Dogra based regiment commanded from Agia in Goalpara district of Assam.

The government was forced to order a magisterial inquiry into the episode.