From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: In a dramatic turn of events, Pynskhemlang Nongshlong and the other agitators who were on a fast-unto-death at Langpih accused Ardent Basaiawmoit for making a false and premature announcement on Thursday that the agitators had called off their fast.
The agitators alleged that Ardent had misled the people of the State with a false statement depicting himself as a savior and showing the agitators in poor light.
“Ardent neither approached us nor spoke to us,” Pynskhemlang and the other agitators said on Friday, adding that his statement about the fast-unto-death being called off was misleading.
What actually transpired during Ardent’s visit to Langpih was that he called leaders of the Hima Raid Mynsaw – Hindro Samakha and Tras Nonglang – to one of the houses nearby and held a secret meeting there. In the meeting Ardent was successful in convincing Tras and Hindro to call off the agitation, who then assured Ardent that they would convince Pynskhemlang and the others to withdraw the fast. On getting the assurance, Ardent went public with the announcement that the protestors had agreed to suspend their fast.
“At the time of the announcement all the agitators were asleep, weary from hunger and weakness,” the displeased protesters said.
After making the announcement Ardent left Langpih without confirming suspension of the fast with the agitators.
Hindro later tried to convince Pynskhemlang and the others to withdraw the fast but failed. Finding no alternative, Hindro, acting as the headman of the Hima Raid Mynsaw, told the agitators that he would not allow them to continue the fast at Langpih.
Pynskhemlang pleaded Hindro to let them continue for the next 24 hours so that they could make necessary arrangements elsewhere, but on being refused the protestors decided to shift to Nongstoin to continue their agitation.
After Ardent’s departure from Langpih a heated debate ensued at Langpih after the villagers denounced the decision made by Hindro and Tras to call off the agitation. They said that a youth who did not even belong to Langpih had taken up the decision to die for Langpih but the leaders of the Hima Raid Mynsaw of Langpih gave up the agitation with such ease.
On reaching Nongstoin, the seven agitators were admitted at the Nongstoin Civil Hospital.
The seven agitators, who were discharged from the Shillong Civil Hospital after treatment, however, could not accompany Pynskhemlang and the others as they could not find any vehicle to travel to Nongstoin.
Pynskhemlang informed that he had advised Markasing Kharbani (73) and Ninghain Samakha (85) to discontinue the fast owing to their old age. He, however, asked them to continue the agitation in spirit and support them from outside.
Pynskhemlang had also asked the female agitators to quit the protest, but they chose to stick to their decision to continue the fast.
Meanwhile, Pynskhemlang and the other agitators condemned the leaders of the Hima Raid Mynsaw for being misled by Ardent and for forgetting the core motive of retrieving Langpih from the clutches of Assam. Villagers of Langpih too were angry over the decision made by Hindro and Tras.
“The fast had never stopped and continues from tomorrow at Nongstoin,” Pynskhemlang announced from his hospital bed.