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lCabbies to stay off the road
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Govt to go soft on pro-ILP leaders
SHILLONG: The State Government has decided to adopt a cautious approach during the proposed rally on Saturday at Jaiaw Students’ Field.
“It is the responsibility of the law forcing agencies to see how to go about during the rally as per law,” Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said here on Thursday.
“We leave it to the wisdom of the state police on whether to arrest the pro-ILP leaders during the meeting,” he said.
Several leaders of pressure groups, who had gone into hiding after the agitation kicked off, are expected to take part in the rally.
According to Dr Sangma, if certain cases were registered against individuals, then the normal trend of procedure has to be followed by law enforcing agencies.
When asked if the NGO leaders would be arrested, he said that it is not necessary to arrest the leaders on that particular rally as they can be arrested later too and even police till now has not been able to arrest them.
“When somebody is calling for agitations, the person will be held responsible for all the violence as per the order of the Supreme Court,” Chief Minister said.
It is interesting to see if the district administration would grant permission to the pressure groups to hold their public meeting on Saturday and Chief Minister said that Government never stopped any one from organizing such public rallies and the permission to hold such
) rallies depends on the assessment of the district administration.
“We expect the District Administration will use its wisdom based on the assessment,” he said.
Police gear up for Nov 30 rally: Meanwhile, the East Khasi Hills Police is confident of maintaining law and order during the public meeting called by the pro-ILP groups at Students’ Field, Jaiaw on Saturday .
“We have enough forces and equipment to ensure that no untoward incident takes place,” East Khasi Hills SP M. Kharkrang said adding that adequate number of police personnel would be deployed in and around the city to ensure law and order.
The leaders of all the pressure groups are expected to address the rally.
Asked whether police will arrest the leaders during the rally, Kharkrang said, “Our primary concern is maintenance of law and order”.
Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Sanjay Goyal forwarded the application from the pro-ILP groups seeking permission to hold the public meeting at Jaiaw to Kharkrang for necessary assessment and action.
The 14 NGOs had sent the request on Thursday evening.
It may be mentioned that Section 144 CrPC has already been imposed in the entire district.
Cabbies rally behind pro-ILP groups
Local taxis would shun the city roads during the proposed public meeting of the pro-ILP groups on Saturday so as to provide moral support to the 14 NGOs.
Informing this here on Thursday, East Khasi Hill Local Taxi Welfare Association (EKHLTWA) general secretary Wandonbok Jyrwa said members of the association will take part in the public meeting.
Jyrwa also blamed the State Government for the ongoing agitation which has in losses for the cabbies.
