District Administration geared up to maintain law and order
of the public rally called by pressure groups in support of ILP.
SHILLONG: Elaborate security has been put in place ahead of the public rally called by 13 pro-ILP pressure groups on Saturday at Students’ Field, Jaiaw at 11 am.
Constant checking of vehicles and people were conducted in and around the city on the eve of the rally on Friday.
With the pressure groups determined to go ahead with the rally to drum up support for the implementation of the ILP in the State, the district administration has granted conditional permission to hold the rally.
The 13 NGOs had sought permission from the district administration on Thursday evening to hold the rally.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal on Friday said the organizers of the public rally will have to ensure that no untoward incident happens before, during or after the rally.
Speaking to media persons here, Goyal said that since holding a rally is a democratic right, the district administration expects that norms of democracy will not be disturbed and law would be followed.
“It is the responsibility of the organisers to ensure that unwanted elements do not disturb the law,” Goyal told reporters.
While claiming that the district administration has adequate manpower to handle the situation, Goyal said additional forces have arrived in the city to ensure that peace and tranquility is maintained during the rally.
The district administration will also deploy sixteen magistrates to ensure peace and tranquility in the city during and after the rally.
Goyal informed that the timing for the public rally has been fixed from 11 am till 3 pm, adding that the organizer should ensure that no types of weapon like knives, rods or any other lethal weapons are allowed to be taken inside the venue by anti-social elements which may vitiate the atmosphere inside or outside the venue leading to breach of law and order.
According to Goyal, the organizer should instruct the speakers at the meeting not to indulge in any inflammatory speech with the malicious intent of inciting the crowd which may lead to communal unrest and breach of peace and tranquility. The organizers have to ensure that the crowd is dispersed peacefully from the venue without holding any procession after the public meeting.
The Deputy Commissioner made it clear that permission has been granted only for a meeting at Student’s Field, Jaiaw, and the organizers would not be allowed to take out any procession from the venue. “The organizers have not sought permission for any procession,” Goyal informed.
On the overall law and order situation of the city, Goyal said that anyone who disturbs peace will have to face the law of the land, ‘if not today but tomorrow’.
He also clarified that police have not been making random arrest as all the arrests are based on specific evidences.
Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills Police is confident of maintaining law and order during the public meeting.
“We have enough forces and equipment to ensure that no untoward incident takes place,” East Khasi Hills district police chief M Kharkrang said, adding that adequate number of police personnel would be deployed in and around the city to maintain law and order.
Leaders of all the pressure groups are expected to address the rally.
Asked whether police will arrest the NGOs leaders during the rally, Kharkrang said, “Our primary concern is maintenance of law and order.”
It may be mentioned that Section 144 CrPC has already been promulgated in the entire district.
Appeal against agitation
Meanwhile, students of all the seven District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), numbering over 1000, have appealed to the NGOs to refrain from announcing any fresh agitation which could cause severe inconvenience to the students who are appearing their examination which started from November 26 and will continue till December 6.