Shillong, Aug 20: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the immediate deployment of central forces in Meghalaya following the deterioration of law and order during yesterday’s Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) bike rally in Shillong, which resulted in destruction of property and grievous injuries to several civilians in different parts of the state capital.
In a letter to the state government, the MHA said it will deploy four companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and one company of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) in the state until August 25 to assist the Meghalaya Police. Both the CRPF and RAF are under direct control of the central government.
Apart from the KSU incident, there has been unrest in the state due to the traditional governance in Hima Langrin and opposition to the Shree Cement cement factory-cum-limestone quarry.
However, the request by Meghalaya’s Home Department for central forces help specifically cited a “sudden deterioration” in the situation hours after the KSU’s bike rally turned violent.
Protesters indulged in stone pelting, damaged 31 vehicles, set a government vehicle on fire and assaulted pedestrians in areas including Fire Brigade, Nongmensong, Polo, Barik and Mawlai.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal today informed that the authorities have received 16 confirmed reports of assaults on the general public from yesterday. “Two statues of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda have been vandalised and, simultaneously, two vehicles – one government vehicle and one private vehicle registered from outside – have been torched,” the DC added.
Acting on the incidents, Meghalaya Police arrested the pressure group’s president Raymond Kharjana, vice-president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar on Wednesday night in a raid on the KSU’s headquarters in Jaiaw where they came under attack from suspected KSU supporters. Police resorted to tear gas to clear the agitators. Residents condemned the use of tear gas in the residential neighbourhood, which is also close to the H Gordon Roberts Hospital.
Police said the trio have been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 for damage to public property, assault and other offences. All three were lodged at Sadar Police Station and were produced in court where an application for 14 days’ judicial custody was approved by a judge.
Before his arrest Najiar claimed that miscreants had infiltrated the rally to sabotage their agitation.
