Military signage draws ire of students

NONGPOH: The ongoing construction of signage by the Military Station at Sawkilo in Umroi area has drawn strong opposition from various quarters, especially the Khasi Students Union, North Khasi Hills Eastern Border Area (KSU-NKHEBA) and Umiam Circle.
Voicing their protest, the leaders of the KSU-NKHEBA and Umiam Circle led by their presidents, Banjop Maring and Steven Kharkrang Tuesday handed over a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi district urging her to stop the construction.
The Union leaders had also met the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi, DP Kharsati, and apprised him of several issues concerning the ongoing construction by the Military Station at Sawkilo which is beyond the defence land.
The Col. Adm. Commander of the Military Station at Umroi had already clarified to the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner in writing that the signage was only meant to show the presence of a Military Station at Umroi and will not be manned at any time and nor will there a check-gate as alleged. However, most of the local populace and the Union leaders strongly protested against this move, as they feel, in future, this will become a new check-gate thereby restricting the free movement of the local residents as it has happened in the past in other areas acquired by the military.
“There are churches, schools and most importantly, the road on which the signage was constructed connects to Nongsder village via a PWD road, therefore, if the military wants to show the public the presence of its Military Station there at Umroi, they should construct the signage within their own land or a kind of signboard on the roadside of Umroi Bypass,” the Union leaders stated adding that the signage under construction seems more like a check-gate.