Shillong, September 29: North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the August 19 midnight police operation in Jaiaw, alleging excessive use of force, procedural violations and misconduct by personnel during the operation.
In a memorandum submitted to Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home, Nongrum demanded an independent inquiry into the operation and said he would approach higher statutory and constitutional forums if the government failed to take transparent and corrective action. Copies of the memorandum and accompanying dossier were also submitted to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and the State and National Human Rights Commissions.
The memorandum was based, among other things, on a representation submitted by the Seng Samla Jaiaw Pyllun (SSJP), which alleged that the midnight operation created panic among residents and caused breathing difficulties after tear gas was fired in the residential locality. The youth body alleged that around 15 rounds of tear gas were fired and raised concerns over the operation’s proximity to H. Gordon Roberts Hospital.
Nongrum alleged that heavily armed personnel entered the locality at midnight, with some allegedly masked and without visible nameplates or statutory search orders. He also alleged that personnel used offensive gestures and profanities and physically confronted local youth. “Our traditional community coordination frameworks were completely bypassed,” Nongrum said, alleging that the conduct had left residents shocked and traumatised.
The MLA also questioned the deployment of police personnel during the day and the midnight operation, alleging that adequate police presence was absent during a Black Flag Bike Rally earlier on August 19, while a heavily armed force was deployed in Jaiaw later that night.
The accompanying legal brief alleged violations of provisions of the Meghalaya Police Act, 2010, including Sections 55, 108 and 109, and raised questions over compliance with safeguards laid down by the Supreme Court in the D.K. Basu case. Nongrum has sought action against personnel found responsible following an independent investigation.
The memorandum also linked the Jaiaw incident to the 2018 unrest in the 17-North Shillong constituency, alleging that several people sustained serious injuries from tear gas shells, projectiles and pellet firing during the violence. Nongrum claimed that some victims suffered permanent injuries and that compensation and rehabilitation had not been provided.
Arguing that an internal departmental inquiry would not be sufficient, Nongrum said, “A routine internal departmental inquiry or a standard police SIT is completely insufficient when the integrity of the law enforcement machinery itself is the subject of dispute.” He also demanded an independent CBI probe, compensation for those who suffered permanent injuries and action against personnel found responsible under the Meghalaya Police Act.
The demand comes amid continuing questions over the conduct of the August 19 operation, with Nongrum seeking an independent investigation to establish responsibility and determine whether statutory and constitutional safeguards were violated.
