Shillong, Aug 2 : The Steering Committee against Murder of Democracy, a conglomeration of several NGOs, today condemned the Meghalaya cabinet’s decision to reject its demand to remove state director-general of police Anil Pradhan.
The social organisations claim that the DGP was instrumental in the release of Congress politician Thomas Nongtdu who allegedly funded the Shillong jailbreak that took place on May 31.
The NGOs after a meeting held this afternoon said chief minister D.D. Lapang wanted to shield Pradhan who was indicted by the administrative inquiry report for his role in releasing Nongtdu, the accused in the jailbreak.
The NGOs also expressed disappointment over the government not accepting the inquiry report.
The administrative inquiry conducted by principal secretary (home) Barkos Warjri had blamed the DGP for influencing the subordinate police officials in releasing Nongtdu within 48 hours of his arrest on June 3.
However, after yesterday’s cabinet meeting, Lapang termed the administrative inquiry report as inconclusive and decided to wait for the outcome of the judicial inquiry into the jailbreak, recently constituted by the government.
However, Samuel Jyrwa, the spokesman for the committee told reporters after the meeting that the intention of the cabinet in rejecting their demand to remove Pradhan was to protect the “tainted” police official.