Pro-ILP stir takes a violent turn lAgitators pelt stones at police
SHILLONG: Pro-ILP agitation turned violent on Wednesday when some unruly members of two women’s organizations, the Khasi Women Welfare and Deve
lopment Association (KWWDA) and the Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO), pelted stones on the on-duty police personnel injuring six of them including five female cops.
The incident took place when the members of the two organizations tried to take out a procession after completing their day-long sit-in-demonstration at Jaiaw Student’s Field in city on Wednesday.
GK Iangrai, the 2nd in-command of the 6th MLP Battalion, was among the injured. The female police personnel who sustained injuries are sub inspector Meiissa M Momin (31), Head Constable I Rabha (51) and P Lyngdoh (43), B Thiate (24) and AD Sangma (23). They have been rushed to hospital for treatment.
The incident took place around 3pm when the agitating groups left the Students’ Field at Jaiaw after their dharna.
However, on reaching Motphran, some unruly elements started pelting stones at the police personnel on duty. Police, however, managed to bring the situation under control.
According to East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang, police personnel neither used lathis nor used protection gears when the agitating groups started pelting stones. Kharkrang said that police did not resort to lathi charge considering the fact that the gathering was dominated by women folk.
“Unfortunately some elements not satisfied that the dharna had passed off peacefully instigated the crowd to take out a procession,” Kharkrang said.
Earlier, the two pro -ILP women’s groups tried to stage the sit-in-protest at the Additional Secretariat Parking Lot but were prevented by police. The district administration had imposed Section 144 CrPC to prevent the proposed demonstration.
Police later ferried the women protestors in a bus to Student’s Field, Jaïaw to stage their sit-in demonstration. They were later joined by others.
According to police, the women organisations were given permission to hold a peaceful dharna not any public rally. “We will be firm in maintaining law and order and we will not tolerate any violation of the law (section 144),” Kharkrang said.
No arrest has been made in this connection but the SP said that police have registered a case in this regard.
Earlier, talking on the sidelines of the sit-in-demonstration, CSWO President Agnes Kharshiing slammed the district administration for imposing prohibitory orders.
“We wanted to hold a dharna in a peaceful manner but the sudden change in plans on the part of the government has further aggravated the situation which only implies that the government is instigating violence,” Kharshiing said.
The CSWO president said the agitation was to protest against the adamant attitude of the State Government towards the demand of the people of the State for implementation of ILP.