Langpih

Shillong, March 31: The Justice (retd) P.C. Phukan inquiry commission, instituted by the Assam government in September 2010 to probe the May 15 police firing at Langpih on the Assam-Meghalaya border, submitted its report today.

The commission’s secretary and Kamrup additional deputy commissioner, S.N. Bhuyan, submitted the report to Assam home commissioner Jishnu Barua in Dispur this afternoon. The Assam government officially informed the Meghalaya government about the submission today.

An official associated with the commission said the Assam government could either place the report in the Assembly or in the cabinet and Meghalaya could also ask for a copy of the 72-page report which also has more than 20 pages of annexure. The annexure also contains the map of Langpih, a disputed area on the Meghalaya-Assam border (West Khasi Hills and Kamrup districts) witness accounts and matters related to compensation given to Khasi families affected in the firing.

Baruah told The Telegraph this evening that the report was being examined by the government and would be placed before the cabinet and then in the next Assembly session, along with the action taken report. The report comes in the wake of tension early this month over Meghalaya’s alleged attempts to set up a market at Langpih. The Kamrup administration protested against the move as it is a disputed area.

On May 15, 2010, four Khasi villagers were killed and 12 injured in a firing by Assam police personnel at Langpih, one of 12 disputed areas on the Assam-Meghalaya boundary.

After the incident, under pressure from the affected people and NGOs, the Assam government had instituted the inquiry commission in September 2010 to probe the incident.

The commission, which had a tenure of one and a half years, ending today, held more than 40 hearings in both Shillong and Guwahati and cross-examined more than 150 people, including NGO officials, affected people and Meghalaya and Assam government officials. It examined the terms of reference, including ascertaining the circumstances leading to the firing, to determine whether there were any lapses on part of any authority, and if so, to fix responsibility thereof.

Meghalaya’s stand during the hearing was that Assam police fired upon innocent Khasi villagers to protect Nepali residents of Langpih. Assam’s point of view was the police personnel resorted to firing as they could not control the crowd and felt that their own lives and those of the Nepali residents were under threat.