Civil society group Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) has strongly condemned the “targeted attack” on two social work students from Kerala perpetrated by a gang of motorbike riders in Jaiaw here.
Rejaz M Sydeek and Sarath S Thambi, masters students from the Central University in Kerala who were interning here in Shillong, were assaulted on Friday by a group of around 30 youngsters.
TUR said that the violent “criminal and communal” assault was unrepresentative of the people of Shillong and Meghalaya as a whole, evidenced by the local citizens who defended the two outsiders.
“But we know that such targeted attacks on non-local workers, medical representatives, vendors, construction workers, delivery people and others have also happened in the recent past and that has created a feeling of insecurity amongst the citizens of Shillong,” a TUR press release stated today.
TUR acknowledged the anxieties that small tribes, such as the local Khasi-Jaintia, face about losing their culture, identity and livelihood “but this anxiety cannot be removed by such criminality.”
It then swung into an attack on the “self-aggrandizing capitalist greed” of indigenous elites who, TUR claimed, have weakened laws for the protection of life, land and livelihood of indigenous people.
The small Malayalee community in Shillong also raised its voice against the assault today.
The Meghalaya unit of the All India Malayalee Association held a meeting following the attack. It expressed concern at the incident but expressed hope that the assurances of the Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui yesterday and the state police chief are fulfilled.
The association also sought to reassure the people of Kerala and other states that the incident was an isolated one and that necessary steps have been taken for the safe return of the interns. It requested that fake rumours not be spread on social media regarding the incident.
Meanwhile, TUR said that it believes “that a developed society is one where minorities, ethnic, religious and of other identities feel secure and are able to contribute to the development of society as a whole. TUR appeals to the Dorbar Shnongs where such incidents have happened, to actively seek justice for the victims and work towards creating an inclusive culture of peace.”
