MHRC notice to government on mob lynching case at Pashang

Staff Correspondent

Shillong: The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission headed by Chairperson Justice T Vaiphei and members PJP Hanaman and B Giri on Wednesday issued notice to the government on the mob lynching case at Pashang, East Khasi districts.

The notice comes close on the heels when the Police department has hastened up the process of investigation and by added a fresh section (Section 164 CRPC) to build up the case with all ample pieces of evidence before the court. The commission cited Article 21 of the Constitution mandating the protection of life and personal liberty for every person within the territory of India which may be quoted as “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to a procedure established by law”.

The notice states: “In consideration to the grave and serious facts as reflected in the media reports, the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission has viewed the incident with concern and has considered it to be a fit case for taking sou-moto cognizance of the same and has issued a notice directing the State Government through the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya and the Director-General of Police regarding the Action Taken Report (ATR) taken by them as per the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in July 2018 on the subject of lynching by a vigilante group and to submit a detailed report to the commission within 30 days.”

It may be mentioned here that a group of nine individuals – Macmillan Kharshandi, Teiborlang Kharbyngar, Ricky Dkhar, Alfready Sohtun, Vishal Deb Verma, Bijay Singh, Rohit Suting, Banteiliang Kharumnuid, and Pappu Deka – all residents of Madanryting had gone for a picnic to Syntung under Mawkynrew Block to celebrate Ricky Dkhar’s birthday last week. While returning back to Shillong after the picnic, they were intercepted by a mob who accused them of being Menshohnoh (practitioner of black magic) and assaulted them with sticks and sharp weapons, for which three persons sustained injuries resulting in the death of one Macmillan Kharshandi, while the six others managed to flee from the spot.

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