Meghalaya NGOs call for CBI probe into jailbreak incident

Shillong , June 20 : Days after the daring jailbreak by seven convicts here, a forum of 14 NGOs today asked Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang to recommend a CBI probe into the incident and demanded the removal of the DGP.

"In view of the want of confidence in the state police about the entire jailbreak incident,"a CBI probe into the entire episode can be instituted, the 14-organisation Meghalaya Steering Committee Against the Murder of Democracy (SCAMOD) demanded here.

"To ensure a fair and unprejudiced probe by CBI, the incumbent Director General of Police be immediately removed from the present post", SCAMOD said in a memorandum, signed by its Convenor Agnes Kharshiing, to Lapang.

Hinting at the complicity of a nominated member of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, who had earlier been arrested but released shortly afterwards, the forum urged the Chief Minister that in the interest of the rule of law, the new Investigating Officer (IO) should not be&aposinfluenced&aposin doing his duty.