‘Night road blockades to continue’
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: It seems that the State Government has decided to take a tough stand against the agitating Joint Action Committee (JAC), a conglomerate of social organisations in Ri-Bhoi district, with two of their leaders being arrested by police on Thursday.
The two arrested persons — Eddie Kharbani, president of FKJGP and David Kharnaior, member of the Confederation of Ri-Bhoi People and secretary of the JAC, have been arrested based on an FIR which accused them of being involved in stone pelting and damaging vehicles in the district during an earlier bandh called by the JAC.
Despite the arrests, the night road blockade called by the JAC against the Government decision to construct the four-lane highway from the existing Umsning road went ahead as per schedule.
In the midst of all the controversy, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has invited the Khasi Students’ Union on Friday to hold parleys on the ongoing imbroglio.
However, Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi, M Kharmujai, informed that no report of any violence have been recorded in any part of the district.
“We have taken all precautions to ensure that law and order is maintained at all cost,” he said, adding that additional forces have been deployed in various parts of Ri-Bhoi to prevent any law and order breakdown.
The night road blockade would continue on Friday night, and again on October 19 and 20 in the entire district followed by a 12-hour Ri-Bhoi bandh the next day.
Meanwhile, the JAC has condemned the arrest of its leaders.
“We know it’s the handiwork of Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh who directed the police to arrest our leaders when they were asleep,” JAC member and KSU North Khasi Hills president Donkupar Sumer said, while adding that the committee would not demand for release of the two leaders.