SHILLONG: Raking up the contentious issue of Sweepers’ Lane, the Khasi Students’ Union has asked the state government to summon the illegal settlers instead of summoning the local residents.
Police recently summoned nearly 50 persons, including those from the pressure groups in connection with the probe into the unrest in Shillong.
Irked by the action of the police in summoning the people and leaders of pressure groups over the Sweepers’ Lane issue, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar in a statement said, “Summon the illegal settlers of Them Metor because they started the conflict as they regularly flex their muscles against locals who walk from Them Metor.”
The union expressed surprise at the state government summoning the locals holding them responsible for the recent Sweepers’ Lane conflict.
“Summoning them is not the way to cool down the conflict but it will add fuel to fire. The state government should know that the demand to relocate the settlers is not an act of instigation but the public protested as they were disturbed by the regular harassment faced by them,” Marngar said.
He added that the people from outside the state who visited the Sweepers’ Lane should also be summoned.
Reminding that the action of the state government to summon the locals will lead to a flare up again if the government does not understand the whole issue, Marngar said the government should direct the illegal settlers to leave the Sweepers’ Lane.
“It is not a tough task for the state government to issue order for them to leave the place,” he added.
