The Congress party in Meghalaya has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma over the Mukroh massacre in West Jaintia Hills district.

The Working President of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee – Pynshngain Syiem, noted that “We have unanimously resolved to demand that the CM and his council of ministers accept responsibility by stepping down and give other people the opportunity to run the administration and make decisions to protect the citizens along the interstate border with Assam.”

“This would also pave the way for a new government that is committed to protecting Meghalayan residents who live on the border with Assam,” he added.

It is worth noting that six persons, including five from Meghalaya were gunned down by the Assam Police at Mukroh village in West Jaintia Hills district along the Assam-Meghalaya border on November 22 after the Assam Forest guards has halted a truck carrying timber.

However, Syiem claimed that Congress is opposed to president’s rule, which makes sense that it would give the BJP, one of Congress’s bitter adversaries, more power over Meghalaya just months before the next assembly election.

Describing the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) as ‘weak’ in dealing with Assam, the former Congress legislator said, “What is the use of border talks if our people are killed within the territory of the state? The border talks have no meaning at all.”

Syiem noted that residents have claimed that Assam police and forest officials frequently demand money, whenever they transport forest or agricultural products.