SHILLONG: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has denied its role in the recent cases of arson in East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi but said it would continue its opposition to the railway project.
Speaking to a section of the media on Thursday, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar said the organisation has not announced any agitation so far but it was disappointed that there was no “strong mechanism to check influx” till date.
“What will the government develop? In 2011, the state government stated that it will not go ahead with the railway project but out of the blue, we found out that the railway project has started without any consultation,” he added.
Stating that the organisation would continue to oppose the railway project, Marngar said, “The organisation does not carry any weapons as we use the pen to voice our opinion. We don’t need IEDs as proposed by the HNLC.”
When asked about the arrests of KSU members, Marngar said the organisation’s agenda is the issues of the public pertaining to the railway and added that the Union will examine the consequences arising out of it and the member’s arrest.
Alleging police harassment in Ri Bhoi, he said, “When Ri Bhoi police could not find the KSU members in their homes, they would threaten their relatives to keep them behind bars.”
He added that the approach of the police towards KSU members and their relatives is “adding fuel to fire”.
