The Mawlai Town Durbar (MTD), an umbrella body of all headmen of Mawlai area, has today appealed to the youths who took away the weapons of police on August 15 to return the same.
The MTD also said that the State government has assured that no legal action would be taken against those who returned the weapons.
It may be noted that three INSAS rifles were snatched from policemen patrolling in a Scorpio vehicle belonging to Mawkynroh police outpost.
The vehicle was later burnt down at Jaiaw Pdeng while the whereabouts of the youths who decamped with the weapons are still unknown.
In a press conference here today, MTD convener Herlambok War said that the Town Durbar delegation met Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo to discuss the situation in Mawlai.
“The chief minister has given a clear assurance to us that no legal action would be taken against those who returned the police weapons. Therefore, we appeal to those youths who took away the weapons to return the same,” War said.
He also said that the weapons can be returned to any responsible citizen of Mawlai including the local headmen, MLA or MDC.
“They can dump the weapons anywhere and also write a note informing about these weapons and to whom it should be returned,” War said.
He also said that a meeting of the MTD today in the presence of various organisations from Mawlai has also decided not to take part in the peace committee set up by the State government unless the policemen who murdered former HNLC general secretary Cherishterfield Thangkhiew were arrested and removed from service.
“We will not take part in the peace committee till those cops who killed Thangkhiew are arrested and sacked from service,” War said.
He also said that the meeting has decided to urge the government not to deploy police to Mawlai area for the time being in order to restore a sense of peace and tranquility in the area.
“At present, the people of Mawlai are angry with the killing of Thangkhiew and so presence or deployment of police will infuriate people and cause more violence,” War said.
He also said that the local headmen have taken upon themselves the duty to maintain peace in the area.
“Yesterday night residents including women patrolled the GS Road stretch from Mawlai Iewrynghep till Mawlai Nongkwar and there was no incident of violence,” he informed.
