In a crackdown on persons who assault migrant labourers, city police yesterday night arrested KSU Nongthymmai Circle president Eric Nongkynrih.
Nongkynrih was arrested from his house following the alleged assault of labourers engaged in renovating the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on July 9.
The labourers were allegedly assaulted by members of the KSU who were reportedly checking labour licenses.
Meanwhile, four cases have been registered by police in connection with the assault and harassment of migrant labourers in different places.
One case under Section 126 (2) (wrongful restraint) and under Section 351 (criminal intimidation) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered in Ri-Bhoi district and three others in Shillong under East Khasi Hills.
Yesterday, the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of an incident involving the assault of labourers engaged in renovating the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong and directed the Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills to submit a detailed report within two weeks.
The assault of migrant labourers has caused disruption to the ongoing construction works at the stadium for hosting the upcoming 133rd edition of the Durand Cup which is scheduled to begin on July 27.
Shillong is set to host one of the group stages of the tournament.
Meanwhile, KSU War Jaintia Circle members today conducted checking of documents of migrant labourers in two places.
At the site for construction of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), Umladkur, the KSU members found 55 labourers without papers. In a private building at Shangpung, 33 labourers were asked to leave as they reportedly possess no documents.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has made it clear that no individual or group is authorised to conduct checkings of migrant labourers and such actions are illegal.
Stating that there is no work permit system in the State, Sangma said that labourers are registered by the Labour Department for their safety and record-keeping.
Group questions late night summons
The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has questioned why, once again, one of its members had to be taken in for questioning late at night and not during daylight hours.
It seems to be a concerted move by police to reserve summons for KSU members until late at night in an apparent bid to forestall any disturbance or resistance.
Richard Mawkhiew, vice-president of the KSU Nongthymmai, said that Eric Nongkynrih was taken to Sadar police station for questioning.
“But the KSU cannot comprehend why he was called for questioning at such an odd hour,” Mawkhiew said, adding that the union’s members are always ready if the police want them for questioning but they are not militants that they have to be picked up at odd hours.
The KSU’s assumption of responsibility to check documentation of migrant labourers is illegal, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said yesterday. However, Mawkhiew said that during the checks, the union found that many labourers could not even prove that they were citizens of India, which could mean that they are illegal migrants.
Mawkhiew further said that if the KSU’s checking is illegal then the government should do a better job and appoint more labour inspectors to ensure that migrants are properly registered.
The pressure group wants the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and/or the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA). However, the central government has not granted the former and has returned the latter to the state government for amendments before it can be signed into law. The KSU and other pressure groups frequently harass and intimidate migrant labourers with little to no action ever taken by the state government.
