SHILLONG: The peace seekers who participated in the rally organised by the Seng Samla Malki on Monday expressed their faith in the Conrad Sangma-led government and reiterated the “growing demand” for relocating the residents of Punjabi Lane, or Them Iew Mawlong.
Hundreds of people attended the prayer congregation and peace march, which started from Malki ground, and carried placards with messages like “Sir Conrad, we trust your governance for quick solution”, “Action should be taken for irresponsible SMB, KHADC and Syiem Mylliem”, “Mr Manjit (Manjit Singh Rai, member of the National Commission for Minorities who had visited the city after the violence), keep your logic with u. Let our government do the work”, “Pray more, worry less”, “Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly” and “peace, unity and harmony”.
Speaking to reporters after the march, headman of Malki HP Offlyn Dohling pointed at the growing demand for relocation of the Punjabi Lane residents.
He said a delegation of the residents of Malki met the chief minister recently and he told them that it was not an easy task to bring an immediate solution to the current situation as legal aspects of the long-pending issue had to be studied.
He urged the High Level Committee (HLC) to speed up the relocation because “the residents of Sweepers’ Lane create problem for other people who pass through their locality”.
In fact, the prayer meet and peace march was a “step towards pressuring HLC to speed up the decision on relocation”, said Seng Samla member W Kharsyntiew, who was concerned about the loss suffered during the agitation and injuries suffered by people.
In a memorandum to Sangma, the delegation, besides highlighting the relocation issue, had demanded release of the arrested youth if they are not involved in illegal activities.
Dohling maintained it was up to the police to find out if illegal activities were carried out by a few persons.
Prior to the march, church leaders led the congregation in prayer.
