SABUDA: In the latest instance of high handedness of the personnel stationed at Assam Border Outpost at Sabuda, five youths from Meghalaya were severely assaulted and detained on Sunday night without any basis.
The arrested youth were released only after personnel from Umiam Police Station stepped in backed by hundreds of agitated residents of the area accompanied by KSU leaders and members.
The five youths who were assaulted were identified as KSU Khyndewso Circle president Edmund Shadap and three KSU members of Sabuda unit – Klepsing Shabong, Pynhun Khriam and Kampher Lyngdoh. The fifth victim, Yarles Muktieh of Mawlasnai, was the driver of a vehicle that was also seized by the Assam Police.
It is learnt that the KSU Raid Nongtung Circle had wanted to take up the matter of illegal movement of coal trucks from Nartiang via Thadrang-Khyndewso-Sabuda to Diphu in Karbi Anglong District of Assam with the Assam Police personnel who were allowing to vehicles to move easily through the area.
The KSU members also learnt that one Louis Majaw was allegedly collecting money from each coal truck for the past few weeks.
Sensing the move, Majaw invited Edmund Shadap to Sabuda on Sunday night and when the KSU members reached the spot along with the driver, two vehicles full of Karbi villagers came from the Assam side and confronted the five men.
However, the two vehicles and their occupants returned after a heated exchange of words.
A couple of minutes later, several Assam Police personnel who were allegedly intoxicated turned up at the scene and assaulted the five youths and dragged them to their outpost.
On learning of the incident, several members of the local KSU unit and scores of villagers turned up to keep vigil on the Assam police outpost, fearing that the arrested youths might be taken to Diphu.
Soon after, a team from Umiam Police Station arrived at the scene, pacified the agitated crowd and took up the matter with Ulukunji Police of Assam after which the arrested youths were taken to Bhoirymbong CHC for medical examination before being released.
Angered by the barbaric action of the Assam Police, the KSU North Khasi Hills District Unit has decided to hold an executive committee meeting on Tuesday to chalk out their second phase of agitation in Ri Bhoi District.
