Police have evidence against KSU leaders: SP

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: “East Khasi Hills district police is a professional police force and we do not indulge in any random arrests,” district Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang asserted while reacting to the allegations of the KSU that their two leaders had been arrested rampantly by the police in connection with the incidents on April 4.

Addressing a press conference here in the city on Tuesday, Kharkrang said that seven cases were registered at Laitumkhrah and Sadar police station in connection with the vandalism that took place during the KSU sponsored procession last month.

He also made it clear that the two KSU leaders – Johny Lyngdoh and Teiborlang Nongbri – were arrested based on evidence and police have enough proof of their involvement in the incidents of vandalism.

The two student leaders have been booked under the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act.

Reacting to a query about the demands of the KSU to release the two leaders, the police official said that they have not applied for the bail and the legal system does not allow the release of any individual ‘unconditionally’.

The statement of the SP comes at a time when the KSU has called for night road blockade on May 10 and 11 demanding the release of the two members.

Both the KSU and the family members of the duo are claiming that Lyngdoh and Nongbri were not present during the procession.

On the case of arson last week where a government vehicle was torched by miscreants, Kharkrang said that police have raided the houses of four persons who were identified to be involved in the incident.

“When we raided their homes their parents told us that they did not know their whereabouts,” the SP said, while stating that no missing complaint was lodged by the parents.

To a query on the security arrangements for the road blockade, Kharkrang said, “We will try to provide security to people who would like to go to different places during the blockade.”

The police official also made it clear that the blockade will invite the provisions of the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act, in case there is any damage to life or property during the blockade.