By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Khasi Students’ Union rally at Nongmynsong on Tuesday on the occasion of Khasi National Awakening Day turned violent with stone-pelting in which a woman was injured.
The locality resonated with the war cry of hundreds of KSU members gathered in front of the Atomic Minerals Division (AMD) on Tuesday as they protested against uranium mining. Their message was clear – stop mining or brace for bloodbath.
Addressing the gathering, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar said despite repeated petitions to stop uranium mining, Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) attempted to extract uranium.
“They think we are non-living objects but once the battle starts and if there is bloodshed, UCIL and AMD will take the responsibility for the violence,” said the leader.
Warning that they will resort to anti-AMD activities, Marngar went on to argue that AMD should not float tenders again. He alleged that UCIL frequented Domiasiat in the recent months to beguile residents that uranium mining would usher in development.
“There will not be any development as in the end there will be death and diseases tormenting the State. Still, if UCIL approaches the people in villages, the organisation will chase (UCIL),” he added.
As the KSU activists moved towards the ground at Nongmynsong after the meeting ended, sound of breaking window panes was heard and shocked the people gathered there. Even the KSU leaders, who were till a few minutes back making provoking statements, were taken aback. They looked back to gauge the situation.
During the burning of effigies of AMD and UCIL, stones were pelted at the AMD office gate. But no one was hurt.
However, a woman sustained minor injuries when miscreants started pelting stones at Manav Dharam Ashram, Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti at Nongmynsong.
East Khasi Hills SP Davis R Marak said splinters from the windowpanes led to the injury.
Marak, who admitted that police expected more trouble, said it had to be ascertained whether the miscreants were part of the rally. “We will wait for the injured woman to file an FIR,” he added.
He further said KSU was given permission for the rally on the condition that the organisation would be responsible for controlling their volunteers.
Before the rally turned unruly, former KSU president Daniel Khyriem stoked memories of the 1992 communal riots saying, “We remember that it was in 1992 that ‘outsiders’ harassed our people living in Nongmynsong, which was then known as Lal Chand Basti. Our people had to take refuge at Mawlai, Polo and other parts… it was our courage that we could assert ownership of this place, which is a victory for the organisation as well as for the entire people.”
‘Enemy of the land’
Terming UCIL as an enemy, Marngar said, “UCIL has taken lives of many people at Domiasiat. Till date, children and other people are suffering from one or the other physical deformities, due to radiation effects and mining activities.”
Criticising AMD for floating tenders for drilling uranium, the KSU president said, “If the office of AMD and UCIL attempts to forcefully mine uranium, we declare that AMD and UCIL are the worst enemies of the indigenous community and a group of dreaded murderers of the people of our land.”
Denouncing the “pro-uranium groups” in the State, Marngar urged them to work for the welfare of Meghalaya and join the anti-uranium protest.
“If UCIL mines uranium from our land, are we ready to assert our power over the office (AMD)? We will drive every staff and chase them from our land,” Khyriem screamed at the crowd. A loud “Yes” from the gathering and a round of applause followed.
Against citizenship to B’deshi Hindus
On railways, the KSU general secretary Donald Thabah said the union would oppose till a comprehensive mechanism is framed to tackle illegal immigrants. “We will not be refugees in our own land,” he added.
Thabah, while referring to the granting of citizenship by the Central government to the Hindus from Bangladesh, warned that what happened in 1979, 1987 and 1992 would be repeated if the Centre decides to implement such a decision in Meghalaya.
“No more festivals and the State government should start coming up with entry/exit points,” Thabah said.
Thabah demanded that the government resolve it fast and give back land to the people.
“Even if the government is to fence the borders, fencing should start from the border of Meghalaya and Bangladesh,” he said.
A documentary on trade was released by the KSU on this day.
NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa also opposed uranium mining.
‘Indian by force’
Speaking on the KSU’s contentious statement – ‘Khasi by blood, Indian by force’ – Marngar said it was not a blind statement. “There are some who say it (the statement) is illegal in India but we did not write blindly as we based it on historical records of the land,” he added.