Pressure groups demand arrest of culprits, eviction of residents

SHILLONG: The KSU on Friday asked the state government to evict residents from Sweepers’ Colony and sought arrest of all those involved in the assault of three local teenagers on Thursday.
KSU president Lambok Marngar told The Shillong Times that the state government should consider the eviction move seriously if it did not want a repeat of Thursday’s incident.
“Those who assaulted the sons and a nephew of the SPTS bus driver should be booked under attempt to murder charge. The government should also pay compensation to the three victims as well as others who were beaten up by police,” he demanded.
Marngar further stated that Sweepers’ Colony is not a settlement area but a market place which was previously meant for employees of the Shillong Municipal Board. “We do not know how many SMB employees reside there. The area is a den of anti-social activities,” he added.
Later in the day, the FKJGP and Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) held a joint press briefing at the KSU’s office where they reiterated the demand for arrest of the culprits.
“It is not the first time such an incident has taken place at Punjabi Lane. It is time to move them to another place and utilise the area for other purpose,” said FKJGP president Wellbirth Rani.
Meanwhile, Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) president Robert June Kharjahrin pointed out the lackadaisical attitude of the state government in not evicting the residents of Punjabi Lane.
“There will be no permanent solution to the problems if the illegal settlers continue to dwell there.
The illegal settlements lead to unhygienic living conditions and traffic congestion,” he said after emerging from a meeting called by East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner P.S Dkhar to douse the situation.
Demanding the arrests of the culprits, Kharjahrin said, “Why is it hard for the authorities to arrest the woman whose action triggered the entire episode?”