By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Sensing that attempts were being made to create unrest in Shillong, the East Khasi Hills district administration has called upon NGOs to assist the Government in defusing the air of tension in certain pockets of the city for the past few days.
“There are some elements who are desperately trying to disrupt the law and order situation in the city. They are spreading all kinds of rumours to create communal disharmony,” Deputy Commissioner Jopthiaw Lyngdoh told reporters after his meeting with KSU and FKJGP leaders on Thursday.
Lyngdoh said it has come to the notice of the district administration that these unknown elements are using surreptitious methods to spread rumours.
‘They are spreading rumours not only by sending SMSes but they are also using social networking sites like Facebook to create panic and confusion among the general public,” the Deputy Commissioner said.
When asked about the reason for inviting the NGOs, he said that the district administration had called upon the NGOs to find out if they were involved in spreading rumours.
“We have got specific inputs that these unidentified miscreants who are spreading rumours are claiming to be members of the NGOs,” Lyngdoh said, adding that during the meeting, the NGOs leaders categorically denied involvement of their members.
The district administration has called upon the NGOs to help the Government in its effort to maintain peace and harmony in the city, the Deputy Commissioner said.
Meanwhile, KSU president Samuel Jyrwa denied involvement of KSU members in spreading rumours to create unnecessary tension and confusion among the people.
Referring to the assault on non-tribal citizens in the past, Jyrwa said such cases were a result of the desperation of the local indigenous people who see influx of people from outside the State as a threat to their peaceful existence.
“The local indigenous people of the State do not wish to see a Tripura-like situation where the locals have being outnumbered by people from outside the state,” he said.
According to Jyrwa, the only way to check infiltration problem is the immediate introduction of the work permit system.
“We have requested the district administration to ask the Government to speed up the implementation of the work permit system,” the KSU president informed.
HANM appeal
Following the recent attack on four Khasi youths by unknown miscreants at Sweeper Lane, GS Road, the Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) has urged the State Government to remove the harijans residing in Sweeper Lane, Them Iew Mawlong.
In a meeting held here on Wednesday, the HANM decided to send a letter to the government urging it to remove the harijans from Sweeper Lane to avoid any kind of violence between them and the Khasis.
“We strongly urge the government to take note of this serious problem to avoid such kind of incidents in the future,” president of HANM L Kharbani said.