SHILLONG: KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit has termed the attack on the staff of the Council as premeditated.
“The assault on our staff is a premeditated one. This is an organized crime by those people who are unhappy with the good work being done by the present Executive Committee,” Basaiawmoit said while talking to newsmen here on Friday.
Terming the incident as unfortunate, he said the people involved in the crime used sharp weapons with the intention to injure the staff of the enforcement wing of the Council who were only discharging their duties.
Informing that the Council has already filed an FIR on the incident, Basaiawmoit asserted that the KHADC will see to it that those responsible for the attack are taken to task as per the provisions of law.
“I would urge upon the police to arrest all those who are involved,” the KHADC CEM said.
He also expressed concern over the attack on the journalist of T7 news channel, Marcus Lyngdoh who was covering the eviction drive.
Basaiawmoit said that the incident will not deter the Council which would continue with the job in hand.
“We would continue with the eviction drive against the roadside hawkers and also continue to check the non-tribal traders who are illegally operating their business without obtaining valid trading license as per the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation Act, 1954,” Basaiawmoit said.
He said that the Council conducted the eviction drive against the roadside hawkers following complaints from several quarters.
“We have also seen the way the hawkers occupy the footpath creating immense difficulties for the common people. We are committed to clean up the whole mess,” the KHADC CEM said.
The Council seized around five trucks of goods during the eviction drive on Friday.
SPC files separate FIR
Meanwhile, in a separate FIR, the Shillong Press Club stated that the journalist (Marcus Lyngdoh ) was assaulted while he was discharging his duties.
“Suddenly he along with enforcement officers and staff were attacked by some persons who clearly were instigated and led by Paul Leong and his son Kimfa Marbaniang as can be seen from the detailed video coverage of the incident which we will be happy to provide you with. Moreover, the miscreants seemed to be well grouped and were also armed with dangerous weapons,” SPC general secretary Powell Sohkhlet stated in the FIR.
Sohkhlet informed that Lyngdoh was injured on the back of his neck, left shoulder and right arm and had to be rushed to Shillong Civil Hospital for immediate medical attention.
“In the light of this incident, the Shillong Press Club requests your immediate intervention into the matter and take the perpetrators to task by apprehending them as per legal provisions of the land,” the FIR added.
Meanwhile, KHNAM general secretary Batkupar Wahlang strongly condemned the attack on the KHADC staff and the journalist.
“We demand the immediate arrest of all those who were responsible for the attack,” Wahlang said in a statement issued here on Friday.
MEPA condemns attack
The Meghalaya Editors and Publishers Association (MEPA) has expressed shock over the manhandling and unprovoked attack on several local media persons including a woman journalist, while they were carrying out their duties in covering the eviction of unlawful street hawkers and vendors by the KHADC.
“Manhandling of members of the media fraternity by the hawkers is a dastardly act that is strongly condemned and abhorred. Administration should take the severest legal action against the perpetrators of violence who should be punished as per law,” the MEPA said in a statement issued here on Friday.
The National Khasi Union (NKU) condemned the assault on media persons and the staff of the KHADC at Iewduh.
The spokesperson of traditional institutions, John Kharshiing also condemned the incident.
