Police today summoned another three leaders of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) activists for conducting a drive against migrant labourers in the city.
Raymond Kharjana, organising secretary of the central executive body, who is also the general secretary of the Shillong Mihngi circle, and Sonstar Nongkhlaw president of the Shillong Mihngi circle were summoned to the Sadar Police station for questioning.
The two were summoned for their involvement in conducting checks on migrant labourers in the Polo area wherein labourers were assaulted.
Nongkhlaw alleged that the police accused him for an assault of a labourer during the checking and claimed that all allegations are a ploy to defame the student’s body. He said that during the checking, East Khasi Hills district authorities as well as the police were present.
Another leader, Eddie Robin Malngiang assistant organising secretary central executive committee and general secretary Mawlai circle was summoned to the Mawlai Police Station.
Meanwhile, Biangbor Paliar KSU vice-president said that these migrants come to the state to work as labourers and later procure EPIC cards and other documents and try to become permanent citizens of Meghalaya.
“As a students’ body we will not sit quietly but we will intensify checking in the days to come,” Paliar said.
He said that the summons served to the members of the KSU is not only to put fear in the minds of the volunteers but also a way to silence the union.
The KSU had said that over 2500 migrant workers, who allegedly failed to produce valid documents, were detected at various construction sites across Khasi-Jaintia region for the last 12 days and have been asked to leave.
So far, 10 cases have been filed against organisations and individuals involved in such acts.
While Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had said checking of workers by the KSU is unauthorised, a meeting convened following the disruption and anxiety caused by setting up check gates and conducting inspections of migrant labourers seemed to have made no impact on the KSU leadership, which is committed to getting ILP and the amended Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) for the state.
