Four persons were killed and several wounded when police fired at a group of people on May 14, 2010 in the wake of a clash between two communities at Langpih (called Lampi in Assam). Both Meghalaya and Assam stake claim on the border citing different documents and records.
Richard Sun, a witness and a local activist, told the Justice (retd) P C Phukon Commission that is probing the Langpih incident, that police had not warned the villagers before firing. "He told the probe panel that the firing was 'rapid and continuous'. But he did not mention the type of arms that police had used," advocate Fenella Nonglait quoted Richard as saying.
Six witnesses, including next of kin of the four killed in the firing, testified before the commission that held its first sitting here. Nonglait said the witnesses' statements contradicted those of the DC and SP of Kamrup district in Assam. However, the Assam representatives did not cross-examine the witnesses. Claiming that the villagers instigated the firing, the Assam government had earlier termed the incident as a "pre-planned and carefully orchestrated move of the locals".
The hearing will continue till May 28, during which inquest reports, statements of the wounded persons, local MLA and post-mortem and medical reports will be taken up. The commission of inquiry was set up on September 24 last year. The commission is conducting the inquiry based on the following terms of reference: to ascertain the circumstances leading to the firing, to find out if any person or organization was responsible for the incident and to determine whether there were any lapses on the part of any authority. The commission will also suggest measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
Six affidavits were filed by the residents of Langpih before the commission in December last year. One was filed by the "sordar (headman)" of the 'elaka (area)' and four by the widows of the deceased along with eight injured persons and as many witnesses. Police had opened fire at a weekly market in the disputed village when a group of people attacked another community with firearms, stones, bricks and sticks, Kamrup (Rural) SP PS Mahanta had said after the incident.