Our Bureau
NONGSTOIN/NONGPOH: Members of the Association of West Khasi Hills District Selection Committee (AWKHDSC) 2010 began their proposed indefinite hunger strike on Monday by rallying outside the premises of the DC’s office at Nongstoin to press the Govt to revalidate the merit list of the DSC results of 2010.
The Association had earlier announced that the strike would be conducted within the campus of the DC’s office. However, the district administration garrisoned all the entries to the office with security personnel.
The members of the AWKHDSC 2010 led by its general secretary, W Marwein, approached the gates of the DC’s office only to be stopped by security personnel who asked them to conduct their business outside the gates of the office premises.
The district administration made attempts to convince the agitators to cancel their hunger strike but in vain.
Leaders of some organisations including HANM, WYWC, WPM and HPSO lent support to the agitators and also met the Deputy Commissioner who informed them that he had written to the State Government and even showed a copy of the letter.
The unrelenting agitators demanded a written assurance from the Government of revalidating the merit list of DSC, 2010.
The NGO leaders, however, gave a one-day deadline to the Government to fulfill the demands, while threatening to go on agitation.
Meanwhile, the DSC passed candidates set up camp outside the DC’s office with a firm resolve of spending the night there.
Incidentally, among the hunger strikers were two pregnant women, who were also part of the agitators.
Meanwhile, registering their strong protest against the adamant attitude of the State Government, the Ri Bhoi District Selection Committee Passed Candidates’ Association (RBDSCPCA) took to the streets and organized a rally from Ri Bhoi College to the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
However, they were prevented from entering the office premises. Later, a group of agitators met Additional Deputy Commissioner PS Kharkongor who was accompanied by Jonathan Shylla, EAC and Rap Thangkhiew, EAC, who assured to look into the matter and also to order all the head of departments in the district to submit the list indicating the respective strength of their departments so as to determine the number of vacant posts.
Not satisfied, the agitators served a one-week deadline and threatened to resort to drastic action to seek their due.
It may be mentioned that the DSC passed candidates had the support of several Nongpoh-based organisations like KSU, CORP, RBYF and FKJGP.