By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government has asserted that it is up to the Court to decide on the case of the arrested KSU activists, even as the 24-hour deadline of the union to release its members ended on Friday evening with a stray incident where unknown miscreants set on fire a Government vehicle (Bolero ML-01-1886) allotted to Arnel Marbaniang, Director of Economics and Statistics, Meghalaya inside the office campus at Lower Lachumiere.
However, office employees extinguished the fire which partially damaged the vehicle.
Police are inquiring into the incident to ascertain whether any KSU activists were involved in the arson.
It was on Tuesday night that the police had arrested two KSU leaders, Johnny Lyngdoh and Teiborlang Nongbri, for their alleged role in the incidents of vandalism at Laitumkhrah on the Khasi National Awakening Day on April 4.
The next day, a Government vehicle (Bolero-ML01 6113) allotted to the Divisional Forest Officer of the Forest department, R Nainama Mallai, was torched at Forest Colony.
Police have established some links between the KSU and the incident of arson on Wednesday.
Asked about the response on the part of the Government on the 24-hour deadline set by the KSU to release the arrested members, Principal Secretary (Home) KS Kropha told reporters on Friday that after the FIRs were lodged with the Police, they acted on evidence collected.
“We have no say on the matters related to the court and the KSU can seek legal redress from the court,” Kropha added.
Earlier, there was an official level meeting convened by Chief Secretary WMS Pariat and attended by DGP Prem Singh among other senior officials to discuss the law and order situation.
The meeting decided to enhance security to prevent the occurrence of cases of arson in parts of the city.
The Government has already issued circulars to all the Government staff who avail office vehicles to keep them in safe custody.
The KSU is likely to meet on Saturday to discuss its future course of action.
