‘Bandh callers will be held responsible for any damage to property’
SHILLONG: In view of the dawn-to-dusk (5 am to 5 pm) bandh called by the State Co-ordination Committee of Coal Owners’, Miners’ and Dealers’ Forum on Wednesday, the State Government on Tuesday invoked the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (MMPO) Act and warned that persons calling the bandh would be held responsible for any damage caused to public or private property and would be liable to compensate for any loss.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the State Government appealed to all the citizens of the State to firmly denounce the bandh call which is unwarranted and asked the people to assist the administration in the dutiful discharge of its obligations.
The statement further said that the State Government is committed to sort out this issue and reiterated that all necessary steps have been taken and further steps continue to be taken to resolve the issue relating to the NGT ban on coal mining in the State.
According to the Government, resorting to any form of agitation at this juncture would only jeopardize the life and property of the citizens and create further unnecessary tension in the minds of the people.
“The State Government is committed to maintain law and order at all costs and to ensure that the security of its citizens will not be compromised in any way,” the statement said.
The Government also asked members of the public in general and Government employees in particular not to pay any heed to the unreasonable bandh call and to come out as they would on any normal working day and carry on with their daily activities.
“The State Government would also like to appeal to the public not to be intimidated by the call made by the Forum and reiterates its commitment to maintain peace and order in keeping with its Constitutional obligation to ensure a secure environment for the benefit of all the citizens of the State,” the statement said.