SHILLONG: Former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition, Dr. Mukul Sangma, has turned up the heat on the state government, demanding an independent commission of enquiry to investigate the violent unrest rocking the Garo Hills.
In a scathing critique of the current law enforcement response, Sangma warned that the region is being gripped by a dangerous narrative of “random and indiscriminate arrests” that risks punishing the innocent while letting the real masterminds walk free.
Dr. Sangma expressed grave concern over how arrests are being handled, suggesting that police may be acting under pressure rather than based on solid evidence.
He cautioned that “arrests made merely to demonstrate action” will only deepen public mistrust and aggravate an already volatile situation.
The Demand for Transparency: Sangma insisted that every police action must be seen as “good faith” and free from bias or personal vendettas.
He flagged a growing public perception that authorities might be using the chaos as a smoke screen to “settle personal scores.”
“It is very important that we don’t allow a negative narrative to take root. We need an investigation consistent with the actual incidents at Ground Zero,” Sangma stated.
To ensure the truth comes out without government interference, Sangma is pushing for a formal probe under the Commission of Enquiry Act 1952.
This independent body would investigate what truly sparked the violence, whether authorities fail to act in time, were there “vested interests” or “external forces inimical to national interest” pulling the strings.
Sangma reacted to the recent comments by senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, suggesting the national leader was out of touch with the local reality.
“Respectfully, I will say he has not done his homework well,” Sangma remarked, dismissed Prasad’s take as “reactionary” rather than a sincere attempt to solve the crisis.
While pushing for accountability, the former CM praised the efforts of church leaders and senior citizens who have been working tirelessly on the ground to calm “agitating minds.” He emphasized that the ultimate goal is twofold: restoring peace and resolving the sensitive core issues once and for all.
Sangma has officially submitted a memorandum to Governor C. H. Vijayashankar, placing the ball firmly in the government’s court.
