Students seek apology from SP for clan remark on drugs

SHILLONG: The Manipur based Khongsai Students’ Organisation (KSO) has sought apology from East Khasi Hills SP Claudia Lyngwa for the official statement to the press which blamed the Khongsai Clan after the recent arrest of clan members, who were involved drug peddling.
In a statement on Monday, the KSO, while appreciating and welcoming the arrest of a few individuals under NDPS Act by ANTF team of East Khasi Hills District, the organisation, however, has taken exception to the usage of Khongsai clan.
The KSO said Khongsai as a clan consists of many sub-clans.
The students’ body referred to the statement of the SP on August 16 that “the ANTF team of SP East Khasi Hills was successful in targeting one supply chain network of Khongsai clan who hails originally from Manipur”.
In a letter addressed to the SP, the KSO said, the fact that “you have specifically mentioned “Khongsai clan” as the drug supplier or smuggler, portrays the whole Khongsai community as drug dealers. The act of a few individuals cannot be attributed to the clan as a whole as portrayed in your press release”.
KSO said the press release has upset the whole Khongsai community and hence the students’ body demanded an unconditional apology from the officer for making such a derogatory remark.
“In failing to do so, we will be compelled to take up legal action against you for defaming the whole Khongsai community”, the organisation said.
The KSO said it is very unfortunate that in doing such a commendable job in catching drug dealers and peddlers, the same act is inviting controversy by portraying a certain community as drug peddlers.
The KSO also asked the police to correct the statement.