MIPRL stir turns violent
JOWAI: Angry mob attacked the superintendent of police (SP) of East Jaintia Hills M K Dkhar, torched a police vehicle and damaged another vehicle belonging to a magistrate as the first day of the indefinite economic strike sponsored by the Movement of Indigenous People Rights and Livelihood (MIPRL) against NGT ban on coal mining turned violent on Tuesday night.
With no other option left, police resorted to blank fire to disperse the crowd amid claims and counter claims on the number of rounds fired.
According to police, a mob numbering around 500 suddenly started pelting stones at the police at Kyndon-soo, Wapungskur.
They also obstructed vehicles plying on the national highway NH-44.
While the Superintendent of Police was reportedly injured in the stone pelting, a police gypsy allotted to the Assistant Superintendent of Police, K. Karthikeyan- an IPS officer, was set on fire after it was taken over by the mob. The vehicle (ML02-4122) was completely damaged.
Moreover, the official vehicle used by the Additional District Magistrate, RS Manner was also damaged when hundreds of mob targeted the vehicle with stones and dao.
Besides a police mini truck, a few private trucks were also stoned. “Many police personnel on duty escaped from getting injured”, police sources said.
Sources also informed that police received information that a group of people were obstructing light and passenger vehicles along the NH-44 at Kyndonsoo. The obstruction was in contrary to the decision of the MIPRL which has called for the economic strike only for the commercial vehicles while the mob was preventing other vehicles from plying.
Police personnel led by the SP and Additional SP along with the Magistrate rushed to the spot and on reaching Kyndonsoo, the mob first stopped the magistrate’s vehicle. The Additional SP and the SP came out of their vehicles and requested the mob to allow light vehicles to pass through, however, unexpectedly, the mob attacked them with stones and they had to flee with no other option.
While the violent incident took place at around 10.30pm, the obstruction of vehicles on the NH-44 in East Jaintia Hills started from 5 pm.
On a spot visit, it was noticed that the protestors started obstructing all types of vehicles right from Kong-ong in Wapungshong till Kyndon-soo, Wapungskur. In an area within 4 km agitators were seen burning tyres, and placing boulders on the road.
Interestingly, near the residence of MIPRIL Chairman at Kong-ong, the trucks including twelve wheelers were seen parking across the road which further blocked the flow of vehicular movements.
When contacted, police officials did not return the calls.
Our Reporter adds: Meanwhile, the Movement for Indigenous People’s Rights and Livelihood-Meghalaya (MIRPL-M) has decided to continue with its ongoing indefinite economic road blockade but expressed willingness to negotiate with the Government.
MIRPL vice chairman, David Kharsati on Tuesday claimed that the Movement will not impose the blockade but leave it to the wisdom of the people to support or oppose it. Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills acting Deputy Commissioner, Cyril VD Diengdoh has imposed section 144 CrPC in the whole district in view of the economic road blockade.