SHILLONG: The vehicle of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) general secretary, Donald Thabah, was found with the windows smashed at Mawprem at around 1.30 am on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters, an irate Thabah said the vehicle is usually parked overnight with no untoward incident, but the late night attack on his Maruti Nexa Baleno came as a surprise.
Around 1.30 am, his neighbours called to inform him about the damage to his vehicle. On speaking to them, he learnt that the miscreants smashed his car taking advantage of load shedding.
“The moment the power went off, sound of cars being smashed was heard and witnesses saw three persons running towards Lumsohphoh. There were others who said that after they smashed the vehicle, sound of smashing of another vehicle was also heard,” he said.
Two former KSU leaders- former president, Paul Lyngdoh, and former general secretary, Auguster Jyrwa, are locked in battle for the Jaiaw council seat.
Asked if he was the target of political rivalry, Thabah said that the union is an apolitical organisation and will remain so. However, KSU leaders may join politics after they leave the organisation.
“There may or may not be a political angle to it, I am not aware,” he said.
Incidence of violence in the Mawprem constituency during elections is nothing new.
Thabah later told The Shillong Times, “I am still confused why I am the target. These incidents at Lower Mawprem take place during elections. I don’t have interest in politics either.”
“They cannot intimidate me or anyone and I am going to get to the bottom of this. Whoever did this is going to regret it,” he threatened.
Stating that he has zeroed in on a few suspects, he, however, said the picture is still not clear. Asked if they will hand over the matter to the police, he said, “Don’t know, will see.”
Meanwhile, president of the union, Lambokstarwell Marngar, told reporters that the incident was unacceptable, and was an act of cowardice.
Suspecting a political angle, he said it is an act of cowardice if a person who is not from political arena is targeted.
“It is not surprising since this happens in Mawprem during the elections. We will not hand over the case to the police, but will get deep into it and find out who is behind this,” he said.
Echoing him, Thabah said, “We will find out who is behind this. On my part there is no forgiveness, what is needed to be done will be done.”
Condemned
Urban Affairs Minister AND former general secretary of KSU, Hamletson Dohling has condemned the incident.
He said, “This is an act of cowardice. As a former leader of the union, such an incident is condemnable. The police should investigate.”
