Meghalaya CM's meeting
A view of the meeting.

With the normalcy returning to Shillong, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday met a delegation of the Sur ki Nong Mawlai (Voice of the People of Mawlai) in Shillong.

The Sur ki Nong Mawlai delegation comprised the local MDC, community heads and representatives of social organisations of Mawlai.

After a surge in violent incidents in Shillong following the death of former HNLC leader Cherishterfield Thangkhiew in police firing, the Meghalaya government had to impose a curfew in the capital city.

After returning to normalcy, curfew in Shillong agglomeration has been relaxed from 5:00 am to 4:00 pm on August 18, the East Khasi Hills district administration informed.

However, public gatherings, public meetings and rallies have been prohibited.

Surrendered HNLC leader Chesterfield Thangkhiew was killed around 3 am on Friday at Kynton Massar in Mawlai.

According to police, he was killed in a retaliatory firing after they raided his house to detain him in connection with recent blasts in Meghalaya but his killing resulted in protests in various parts of Shillong and a number of violent incidents were reported.

Sur Ki Nong Mawlai also requested the people of the state to pay tribute to former HNLC leader Cherishterfield by observing August 15 as a ‘Black Flag Day’.

The organisation termed the police raid as “illegal” and alleged that the police had “murdered” Cherishterfield.

Coming under pressure, the Meghalaya Cabinet on Monday decided to initiate a judicial inquiry into the ‘killing’ of Thangkhiew.

During the meeting on Wednesday, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma requested the delegation of Sur Ki Nong Mawlai to allow the judicial inquiry to take its own course.

He also urged the organisation to work with the government in order to ensure that peace and tranquility return to Shillong.

The meeting was also attended by deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong and Cabinet ministers H. Dohling and R. Tongkhar.

Informing about the meeting and sharing pictures, the Chief Ministers’ Office (CMO) tweeted: “HCM, Sh.
@SangmaConrad, Hon’ble Deputy CM, Sh. P. Tynsong & Hon’ble Cabinet Ministers Sh. H. Dohling & Sh. R. Tongkhar met with the members of ‘Sur ki Nong Mawlai’ comprising of local MDC, community heads & social organisations of Mawlai today.”

“HCM requested the delegation to allow the Judicial Enquiry to take its course & calls on them to work with the Government in order to ensure peace and tranquility returns to Shillong,” the CMO tweeted.