By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The recent killing of two jail staff of the Williamnagar jail by armed militants has evoked severe criticism and condemnation from various sections of the society who have termed this attack as an act against human laws.
As a mark of protest against this brutal attack on two innocent policemen, local NGOs have decided to hold a peaceful black flag march on February 8 from 10am from the KSU office in Jaiaw to the Secretariat while hoping to meet the Chief Secretary to demand proper security to all the Khasis and Jaintias serving in Garo Hills.
The NGOs has also invited the general public and government employees to join the march to voice out their concerns and place their demands before the government.
Meanwhile, to express their grief over the killing of Assistant Jailor Neil Warjri and Warder Sharai Singh Thabah, the KSU Nongthymmai circle has called for a three-hour closure of all the shops in Nongthymmai on Tuesday from 11am to 2pm.
“We fail to understand the motives of the militants in Garo Hills to create a gap in the relationship between the Khasis and the Garos who for so long, have been staying together as a unified community,” KSU Nongthymmai circle general secretary Eric Nongkynrih said, while extending his condolences to the bereaved families.
The KSU Mawlai Circle on Monday observed a black flag day as a mark of protest against the attack.
The Meghalaya People’s Human Rights Council (MPHRC) has also condemned the attack in the strongest terms while urging upon the government to see that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to book and that law and order is maintained to prevent any communal disharmony.
MPHRC secretary general Dino DG Dympep said, “There is no cause that justifies this type of immoral and inhumane act and we call upon our justice system to maintain strict standards of justice and fairness in these trying times.”
The A’chik Youth Welfare Organisation (AYWO) and the All India Garo Union (AIGU) have also condemned the jail attack and expressed shock and resentment over the incident.
Blaming the negligence of police on duty to sound an alert, AIGU president Albert Marak said police should make sure that enough security is assured to its citizens. The AYWO has demanded for an immediate Inquiry Commission to be set up for in-depth probe into this barbaric incident.
“We appeal to all the militant outfits not to indulge in acts that are likely to create communal tension,” president of AYWO A Momin said.
While condemning the attack, the CSWO urged the DG (Prison) to see that complaint boxes are made available in the jail premises and papers are provided to the under trials so they can voice their grievances. The CSWO also called for appointment of ‘good officers’ to get to the bottom of this act. The CSWO also urged the DG to check the pay records where even retired warders were drawing salaries and temporary staffs were drawing monthly payments to the tune of Rs 25000 per month.
The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), while condemning the cold blooded killings, said ‘the act strongly reeks of the anti-Khasi stance of the outfit’.
“The information that the execution happened at a time when both the Khasi gentlemen were on duty and the militants’ disinterest in effecting a jail break or any other objective clearly indicates an ulterior motive against the Khasi people,” KHNAM president Pyndap Saiborne said adding that the Government should ensure that all Khasis posted in Garo Hills have proper security.
“The militants should refrain from such atrocities against the Khasi community in future for the sake of peace and harmony in the State,” Saiborne added.
Meanwhile, sitting Mawlai legislator FS Cajee has condemned the brutal attack and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. A meeting was convened to condole the death of the two policemen and a two-minute silence was also observed.