Shillong, Nov 9: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has lodged an FIR with the Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills over an incident that allegedly took place on November 7 near the Shree Cement plant in the Daistong area .
The FIR was filed by Shining Kharbihkhiew, the KSU’s environment secretary.
According to the FIR, a KSU delegation led by its president and general secretary had visited Shnongrim and Daistong villages to extend support to villagers who allege their land is being taken for a Shree Cement limestone quarry-cum-cement plant.
The union alleged that at around 3:30pm, while returning through the Shree Cement plant area, a group of eight to ten people armed with machetes, sticks and iron rods stopped vehicles carrying villagers from Shnongrim and KSU members.
The FIR names Miki Sukhlain and Khreh Sukhlain as allegedly leading the group.
The KSU alleged that the group did not allow the first vehicle, carrying residents including women, to pass, and threatened to kill them if they passed through or raised their voice against the project.
It further alleged that when pressure group members tried to hold a peaceful dialogue, the duo swung machetes at them, but missed and no one was harmed. The union members then allegedly snatched the weapons and chased the group away.
The two Sukhlains have also presented their differing story, wherein they claimed that they were simple farmers and labourers and were carrying machetes for agricultural use when they came across the group of KSU members and villagers, who assaulted them.
The KSU claimed the group allegedly wanted to prevent the delegation from witnessing that the plant was still operational and mining work was still in progress, despite government orders to halt work and maintain status quo.
The FIR also alleges that police personnel stationed nearby took no action to apprehend the group, and instead facilitated their escape.
The union claimed its general secretary called the SP to instruct police to act, but nothing was done. It alleged that police were shielding the group.
The FIR also refers to the July 31 public hearing of Shree Cement, alleging inadequacy and illegal means, tear gas use, road digging and stone pelting, vandalism of vehicles and injuries, with no arrests made till date.
The KSU further claimed that on reaching the SP office to lodge the FIR, the office was closed, no personnel were present and there was no electricity, while neighbouring houses had power. It later met the Additional SP but could not lodge the FIR that day, allegedly due to lack of electricity.
The KSU said it has seen news and social media reports where the Sukhlains claimed they were attacked by KSU members and that the delegation tried to enter the factory premises – claims the pressure group has termed “totally bogus and untrue.” It alleged that the other side was able to file an FIR on the same day, while the union was not.
Through the FIR, the union has requested action as per law against the alleged gang members for attempted murder, etc.
