NCP demands Meghalaya CM’s resignation

SHILLONG - The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Saturday demanded Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s resignation over Friday’s firing incident at the disputed Langpih village on the Meghalaya-Assam border.

“The chief minister has failed the people of the state and he should, therefore, take moral responsibility for what happened. We demand the immediate resignation of the chief minister,” NCP spokesman James K. Sangma said.

The NCP, which is the main opposition party in Meghalaya, also asked the central government to immediately appoint a judicial enquiry commission to probe into the incident.

IANS was unable to reach the chief minister for comment.

The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), an ally of the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance coalition government, has demanded Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh’s resignation over the incident.

“We condemn the indiscriminate firing of Assam police. The home minister should quit owing moral responsibility for it,” KHNAM president Paul Lyngdoh said.

He said KHNAM will meet Monday to decide its future course of action.

On Friday, two people were killed and several others were injured in firing triggered by Assam police personnel at the disputed Langpih village on the Meghalaya-Assam border.

Meghalaya’s former home minister and local legislator H.S. Lyngdoh put the death toll at seven.

However, Meghalaya Director General of Police S.B. Kakati maintained that only two bodies were recovered from the incident site till now.

According to Lyngdoh, the firing began after a clash between tribal Khasis and Garos with Nepalese nationals at a weekly market.

“The Nepalese later fled to the police station manned by the Assam police and the personnel opened fire indiscriminately at our people,” he said.

Langpih village, which is about 60 km from Guwahati in Assam and 140 km from Shillong, has been a bone of contention between the neighbouring states, Assam and Meghalaya.

In fact, the area often hit headlines after the Assam government laid corner stone for a health centre in July 2008.

In 1985, the two state governments entrusted former chief justice of India Y.V. Chandrachud to head a committee of experts for opinion on the constitutional aspects of the boundary demarcation between the two states.

Assam claimed Langpih, based on the recommendations of Chandrachud Committee report. But Meghalaya rejected the report and claimed Langpih on the basis of revenue records dating back to 1876 that clearly show the village in its territory.

A boundary committee headed by the chief secretaries of both states had been formed to resolve the issue amicably.