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Meghalaya seeks CBI probe in Assam police firing case

May 18, 2010 12:43 IST

The Meghalaya government has decided to seek a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the firing incident at Langpih, when two people from the state were killed during clashes with the Assam police last Friday.

The police resorted to firing following clashes between Khasi villagers and Nepali settlers in a local market.

The state cabinet led by chief minister Dr Mukul Sangma, backed by various political parties and non-governmental organsiations, took the decision to seek a CBI probe.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya police is setting up a border outpost at Langpih, which is a disputed area between Meghalaya and Assam. The Assam police have also sent reinforcements to the area.

"We would want the Assam government to initiate legal action against all those police personnel responsible for the indiscriminate firing on innocent people," said Dr Sangma.

Following Friday's incident, the Meghalaya government has decided to expedite the construction of the Nongstoin-Langpih road to improve connectivity to the remote border area.

Meanwhile, tribal students' organisations in Meghalaya have launched a series of attacks on Nepali residents across the state in retaliation to Friday's incident at Langpih.

A Nepali man was burnt alive at Umiam in Ri-Bhoi district on Monday while unidentified miscreants set the office of the Commissioner of Excise at Lachumiere in Shillong on fire.

Nepali residents have also been the target of petrol bomb attacks and security has been beefed up in the state apprehending the backlash of the Langpih incident.

K Anurag in Guwahati