The Khasi Students Union (KSU) has lodged a FIR against police officers for abuse of power, assault on women and children during a protest against the public hearing for expansion of the Meghalaya Cement Limited (Topcem) at Thangskai village on August 24.
While the police have the right to take reasonable actions, the union said, “What happened on that day at Thangskai village within the Topcem premise was an absolute abuse of power by the police whereby the action and physical assault taken is beyond the scope of permissibility.”
The FIR lodged with Superintendent of Police, Jagpal Singh Dhanoa is against the Additional SP, Deputy SP and policemen involved in lathi-charge of protesters that included women and children.
“Videos have been circulated across social media platforms and it can be seen that the police have resorted to absolute force and physical assault on the public probably under the direction of the two Topcem officials as can be seen from the videos whereby two persons have called for assault against the public. The police cannot claim that due to the destruction of the chairs by unruly miscreants at 12 pm, is the reason why they attacked the public at around 2 pm on that day, this is totally unacceptable. The police have chased our people like dogs and terrorists,” the KSU, Narpuh President Kwilnis Suchiang said.
The KSU in the FIR also alleged that one person was brutally attacked and kicked by the police numbering 10-15 and the one leading the charge was the Additional SP, as seen in the video.
“The woman who was lathi-charged was simply walking and did not even see the police, so why did he attack her, this is such a shame that the police have attacked an unarmed woman for no reason,” the union said, adding, “Another video it is also seen, that the Additional SP has threatened to destroy the career of one protestor.”
“We condemn the act of the police officials and wish to firmly state the action of the police was totally disproportionate and unwarranted,” the KSU said.
