SHILLONG: The 40th anniversary celebration of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in the city on Tuesday turned violent in which one person was injured.
The rally led by both former and present KSU members started from its office in Jaiaw and culminated at Lachumiere from where the activists headed to State Central Library for an elaborate ceremony.
However, violence started on GS Road and some KSU members holding the union’s flag were seen beating up non-tribals walking on the footpath with the flag sticks.
The abandoned stalls on GS Road, an overturned stand selling alu muri, potatoes and puffed rice spilling on the ground, thousands of sloganeering activists and the subsequent violence shocked many bystanders and brought back memories of the time when a stronger KSU had flexed its muscles against non-tribals.
Interestingly, shutters were down on many shops on GS Road and Khyndailad as the rally crossed the area, making one wonder about the superficial peace and harmony in Shillong.
Traffic was halted and people had to wait along the road as KSU members strutted through the city.
Along the way, stones were also pelted damaging shops like the Decora showroom, Karuz and Mohanson opposite the old Assembly. A Sumo standing near Assam Studio was also damaged.
Though security personnel were deployed during the rally to maintain peace, they were not seen acting against the perpetrators when the attacks started.
Police said a commuter was also targeted with stones which hit his back. But a Khasi woman sustained minor head injuries.
East Khasi Hills SP Davis Marak said police have to find out whether organisers of the rally were responsible for the vandalism or it was the handiwork of mischief mongers.
Terming the incident as stray, Marak said no FIR was filed.
Meanwhile, the Shillong police had made strong security arrangement outside the State Central Library where the programme was held.
The district administration has already submitted a report on the incident to Chief Secretary Y Tsering. An official said video clippings were also submitted with the report.
The administration will meet on Wednesday to take stock of the situation.
This is not the first time that such violent incidents took place during a rally organised by the pressure groups in the city.
ILP & entry points
The KSU members halted briefly at Lachumiere in which former KSU president and current president of the North East Students’ Union (NESO) Samuel Jyrwa addressed the gathering. He called upon the members to remain steadfast in the principles of the union.
The KSU will have year-long celebration till March 20, 2019, by taking up different issues.
Speaking on the occasion at U Soso Tham auditorium, KSU president Lambok Marngar said, “The KSU grew in the midst of thorns… The state was growing without a proper boundary. How many more years will we witness this?”
He added that the new government should take the issue of boundary seriously.
Stating that the union will follow up on the entry/exit points, Marngar said, “The entry/exit points will be there but it does not mean that the KSU has stopped the demand for the Inner Line Permit. It is still alive in the hearts of the members. The message to the government is to take the issue of ILP to the Assembly and discuss it.”
He hoped that the new government will work on ways to get strong laws to protect the indigenous tribals from illegal immigrants.
Marngar also mentioned about the 33 KSU members who were jailed during last year’s protests against the railway project in the state.
‘An institution’
Meanwhile, former president of KSU Paul Lyngdoh, who was the union’s president from 1994-2002, said, “The KSU is not just a student’s body but it is an institution.”
He said leaders of the union should be leaders of integrity and asked the members to be united in fighting the outside forces that bring a fear psychosis.
KSU also released the special cover and stamps in the presence of the Superintendent of Postal, Alice Vizo, and the website of the union was launched by former general secretary of the union and current Urban Affairs Minister Hamlet Dohling, who is a former KSU leader.
Cabinet Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh and KHNAM MLA Adelbert Nongrum, another former KSU leader, were also present.
