Meghalaya rights panel orders probe into death of 5 workers

The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) today directed Chief Secretary Y Tsering to institute a high-level inquiry into the electrocution of five men at North Garo Hills district, an official statement said.

Five labourers were killed last month when a cememnt-mixing machine at a road construction site came in touch with a low-lying high-tension wire at Miapara village of the district.

Taking a suo moto cognisance of the case, the commission asked the chief secretary to carry out an investigation into the July 25 incident, the statement said.

"A high-level inquiry needs to be conducted to unearth the actual truth about the incident. The investigation should be conducted by an officer not lower than the rank of secretary," commission secretary Aldous Mawlong said in its order, adding that the probe report should be submitted to MHRC in 45 days.