Political parties condemn NCP candidate’s murder

Shillong, Feb 19: Political parties in Meghalaya on Monday condemned the killing of NCP candidate from Williamnagar constituency Jonathone Sangma in an IED blast on Sunday night even as they demanded investigation by the NIA into the incident.

“We vehemently condemns the dastardly act resulting in the death of NCP candidate Jonathone Sangma from Williamnagar and three other persons accompanying him,” MPCC chief Celestine Lyngdoh and working president Vincent Pala said in a statement issued here.

The MPCC strongly condemns the perpetrators of this heinous crime, they said.

The Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has also strongly condemned this tragic loss of lives and has condoled the members of the bereaved families of the victims for the irreparable losses they have suffered.

The Congress party maintains that violence can never be the answer to any problem but believes that participation in the democratic process is the solution if one wants to serve and work for the growth and development of society and the state.

Meanwhile, condemnation and condolences has poured in for victim NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma cutting across party lines.

The United Democratic Party (UDP) demanded that the incident should be investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

“The investigation should be done by the NIA,” UDP chief and Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy told reporters here.

Slamming the state government for its failure to ensure safety of candidates, he said, “Such incident had never happened in the state before and this is because of the total failure of the state government.”

“For the whole five years I was getting security and the moment the election was declared the security was withdrawn,” he said.

UDP senior working president Bindo M Lanong alleged that militancy in Garo Hills is because of the nexus between the ruling Congress and the militant outfits.

On the other hand, the Hills State Peoples’ Democratic Party demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.

“The incident has created a fear psychosis among people of the state in general and Williamnagar in particular,” HSPDP leader Londoner Sohtun said in a statement.

National People’s Party president Conrad K Sangma in his tweet last night said, “My heart goes out to the family of Jonathone Sangma, my dear friend who lost his life in a militant attack. May his soul rest in peace. Sad very unfortunate.”