After a relative lull, a new allegation of harassment against non-tribals in Ichamati was made today by the Coordination and Welfare Committee of Shella Bholaganj block.
In a complaint to the Sub-Divisional Officer of Sohra, the committee claimed that, at 3pm today, around 15-20 people came to Ichamati market “to repeat another incidence of violence in the area.”
In February last year Ichamati was the scene of an attack on members of pressure groups, which led to the death of a Khasi Students Union member. Several Ichamati residents have been arrested in connection with the murder. The incident led to sustained violence in Shillong and other parts of the state.
Today, the complaint says, the miscreants harassed non-tribal vegetable vendors even though they have permission from the Ichamati headman to conduct their trade.
Police later drove away the non-tribal vendors, the committee claimed, perhaps with a view to avert any potential violence.
Towards the end of the year Ichamati returned to the news after allegations of persecution of Hindus were made by non-tribals there, leading to protests against Meghalaya in Assam and West Bengal.
The committee members in the letter also urged the SDO to secure the rights of the non-tribals and take steps to ensure that the people don’t face such harassment in the future.
