SHILLONG: Over 30 members of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) who were detained by the police and booked under Meghalaya Police Act on Friday following their protest at the gate of the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s residence at Polo, were later released on a personal bond in the evening, according to HYC general secretary, Robert Kharjahrin.
The released HYC members were taken to their office at Mawlai Nongkwar.
Robert Kharjahrin said that they would continue their hunger strike at Additional Secretariat Parking lot on Saturday.
The leaders and members of the HYC were taken in a bus from the CM’s residence to Sardar Police station at around 10:30 am.
Taking note of the commencement of the Assembly session on Friday, the SP of East Khasi Hills Davis Marak told The Shillong Times, that the district administration did not have any problem with the protest but the issue was with the venue of protest.
“We have no problem with their protest as it is a democratic right but the problem is with their venue of protest which is the CM’s residence, Additional/Main Secretariat, Rilbong,” he said adding that they can hold their protest but not anywhere near these areas at the time of the “sensitive period” of Assembly sessions.
It may be added that the District Magistrate has promulgated section 144 CrPC in view of the Assembly session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to be held from December 8 to 14 at the temporary Assembly chamber at Rilbong and the State Secretariat during session days.
He had added that the HYC members would be released on bail later after the completion of certain formalities. Marak said that the members could resume their hunger strike on Saturday.
HYC call on Sangma for debate
Kharjahrin told this reporter that they welcome Mukul Sangma to an open debate and a free discussion on the laws to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants.
He said that many other units of the HYC would join and continue the hunger strike organised at their office at Mawlai Nongkwar.
Vice president, Donboklang Kharlyngdoh said, “We went to Mukul’s residence in the morning to remind him about our charter of demands since he is known to be an absent minded person.”
“Before we say bye-bye to him in 2018, we want to remind him to pass an official resolution in the House to implement the 14-point charter of demands,” he added.
The HYC President Peter Lawai said, “We are taking the issue of influx seriously and he (Mukul) should understand.”
It may be mentioned that the HYC members were not allowed to continue their hunger strike on Thursday in view of the commencement of the Assembly session on Friday (December 8).
Not willing to budge from their stand of protest, the district administration was prompted to take them to Mawngap and finally to their office at Mawlai Nongkwar.
It may be noted that HYC announced its14-point charter demands on April this year and Inner Line Permit (ILP) features at the top of the organisation’s charter of demands that also include residential permit, work permit, prohibition and detection of Benami Transaction, border dispute etc.
