GUWAHATI: Quashing Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma’s statement, Assam said that the firing incident took place well inside Assam's territory and not in Meghalaya.
The Assam government also said that when its forest guards tried to stop timber smugglers, they were attacked by miscreants and were compelled to fire in self-defence. Further, not six but four persons—three civilians and one forest guard have been killed.
The state government said that it has ordered a one-man enquiry by a retired judge of the high court into the firing incident at Mukhrow, which is under Jirikindging police station of West Karbi Anglong.
“The inquiry commission has been mandated to inquire into the circumstances leading to the firing incident. The inquiry commission will submit its report within three month," the state government said.
"It may be noted that in the morning of 22 November, an incident of firing took place between Assam Forest Officials and unknown miscreants at Mukhrow under Jirikinding PS under West Karbi Anglong district. The incident reportedly took place when the Forest Party attempted to stop a truck smuggling out illegal timber. When the truck was stopped by the forest party personnel, they were gheraoed by unknown miscreants who resorted to violence. In order to save their lives, the forest party resorted to firing. In the incident, three civilians and one forest guard died," the Assam government stated.