SHILLONG: Police detained over 30 members of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council under the Meghalaya Police Act following a protest in front of chief minister Mukul Sangma’s residence at Polo on Friday morning but later released them.
HYC general secretary, Robert Kharjahrin informed that all the members were released on a personal bond in the evening and were taken to their office at Mawlai Nongkwar.
Earlier, the leaders and members of HYC were taken in a bus from the CM’s residence to Sardar Police station around 10:30 am.
Taking note of the Assembly session on Friday, superintendent of police of East Khasi Hills Davis Marak told The Shillong Times that the district administration did not have any problem with the protest but the only issue was the venue where it was staged.
“We have no problem with their protest as it is a democratic right but the problem is with the venue, which is the CM’s residence and Additional/Main Secretariat, Rilbong,” he said adding they can hold their protest but not anywhere near these areas during the “sensitive period” of Assembly sessions.
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 in Rilbong and the State Secretariat during session days.
Marak said members can resume their hunger strike on Saturday.
Open debate
Seated inside a bus along with other members at Sadar Police station, Kharjahrin told this reporter that they welcome chief minister Sangma to an open debate and a free flow discussion on the laws to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants.
He said many other units of the HYC will join and continue the hunger strike organised at their office at Mawlai Nongkwar.
HYC 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 charter of demands,” he added.
HYC president, Peter Lawai said, “We are taking the issue of influx seriously and he (Mukul) should understand.”
The HYC members were not allowed to continue their hunger strike on Thursday in view of the commencement of the Assembly session on Friday.
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 rolled out its 14-point charter of demands in April this year and inner line permit (ILP) features among the top agenda of the organisation. The others are residential permit, work permit, prohibition and detection of benami transactions, border dispute etc.
