The East Khasi Hills district administration has issued show-cause notices to six leaders of the group, ‘Ka Sur Ki Nong Mawlai’ for violating Covid-19 protocols by holding public gatherings twice.
As per the show cause notices, the district administration said that the leaders of the group held a rally on August 25 at Mawlai Nongkwar near Thangkhiew petrol pump which was attended by a crowd of about 1500 without obtaining prior permission and another gathering on August 27 by holding a candle light rally from petrol pump to Mawlai Mawdatbaki.
The district administration said that as per video footages shared it was also seen that up to 1000 people attended, many were without masks and little social distancing observed.
The show-cause notices dated August 31 said that while Covid-19 cases in East Khasi Hills district stand at around 1200, cases in Mawlai is still relatively high with 116 and 94 deaths reported since May.
“While the situation has improved, concerns are still there regarding a possible third wave. There is no room for complacency and therefore such acts will defeat the efforts of the administration, health department and public at large to contain the spread of the virus,” the administration said.
All the six leaders have been asked to reply to the show-cause notices by September 6 as to why action should not be initiated against them under relevant sections of the IPC, Disaster Management Act and the Meghalaya Epidemic Disease, COVID Regulations, 2020 for organising unauthorised gatherings in total violation of SOPs, thereby posing a risk to public health and safety.
‘Ka Sur Ki Nong Mawlai’ is a group comprising of pressure groups, elders, youth, and individuals formed after the controversial killing of the ex-HNLC leader, Cherishterfield Thangkhiew. The group had organised protest rallies to condemn police raid that led to his death on August 13.
In all these rallies, a huge number of people turned up to support their demand even as similar groups were formed in various parts of the Khasi-Jaiñtia region (Ka Sur Ki Nong Jaiñtia, Ka Sur Ki Nong West, Ka Sur Na Shanphang Shathie Sepngi and others) with a similar demand to suspend the police officers, justice for Thangkhiew and a fair probe.
