SHILLONG: The Federation of Khasi Jaintia Garo People (FKJGP) has demanded that the police department should arrest the individuals responsible for inciting communal hatred against the Khasi-Pnar community through social media.
In a statement issued here, the central body of the FKJGP urged the police department to register suo moto cases against the individuals – who are reportedly non-tribals – and to book them under the different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Information Technology Act.
The FKJGP further elaborated that the Whatsapp group, ‘United for equality’ was created by outsiders and that the members of the group discussed about taking revenge against the Khasi community.
The organisation stated that the Whatsapp group incited the group members to take revenge and also directed the members to assault every Khasi person to the point of killing them.
The FKJGP observed that the Whatsapp group was created following the checking and inspection of the non-tribal vendors by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
FKJGP vice president Eldie Newton Lyngdoh said that according to information circulated on social media, the handiwork was that of Hindu radicals.
“The discussion in the ‘United for Equality’ group is being circulated in all social media which includes Facebook, Whatsapp and others. The discussion in the group will bring about communal tension,” he said and urged the police department to take up the matter seriously.
Lyngdoh said that outsiders should understand and respect the KHADC and not necessarily incite communal tension as the KHADC is empowered by the Constitution.