In an all too familiar scene, a rally for an ostensibly good cause was overshadowed by sickening and wanton violence directed at non-tribals in Shillong today, with several bystanders brutally attacked and vehicles damaged as the state capital ground to a standstill during a rally against unemployment.
Whatever public sympathy the marchers may have had was drowned out by the violence unleashed on innocent passersby caught up in the fury of the mob. Two journalists were also manhandled while covering the event.
The rally was led by the Federation of Khasi, Jaiñtia and Garo People (FKJGP) and supported by other pressure groups. Hundreds if not thousands of marchers went on foot from Motphran to Fire Brigade, through some of the busiest sections of the city in the middle of the day.
Most of them wore bandanas or masks to hide their identities and carried bamboo poles; unthreatening at first as their organisations’ flags flew from the top of them but many were later used to thrash bystanders.
Several individuals were attacked and left bloodied and bruised as the marchers progressed through the city. Police were on hand along the length of the route but were woefully outnumbered. Even some pressure group leaders tried to keep the violent marchers calm but with limited success. One police vehicle was vandalised along with a few motorbikes and their riders injured.
At Fire Brigade a public meeting was held and the state government was blamed for high levels of youth unemployment but whether these pressure groups take any responsibility for the damage done in their name is yet to be seen.
FKJGP president, Dundee C Khongsit apologised before the media and said he did not expect such a thing to happen. “As a leader I have seen so much frustration within the youths… because some youths are a victims of the 2019 police result”, added Khongsit.
He stated that they did not come with a violent intention. “I apologise for what has happened today. We had already instructed all the members and participants that it was a peaceful rally but yet they had gone against us,” he said.
