SHILLONG, Jan 22: A couple from Rilbong here — SK Choudhury and his wife Kalpana Choudhury — have decided to go on a ‘hunger strike till death’ at Khyndai Lad, near old Meghalaya Legislative Assembly gate in protest against the alleged atrocities committed against non-tribals in Meghalaya.
Their hunger strike will begin on Sunday, which coincides with the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
“I have decided to sit on a hunger strike (except taking our regular medicines) along with my wife on protest from 10 am at Police Bazar point below the old assembly gate till our death for the cause of severe atrocities against the Bengali communities in particular and all other non-tribal populace of Meghalaya,” said SK Choudhury in a letter to East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo.
While recalling that since 1979 till January 20, 2022, some stabbing incidents have occurred, he claimed that till date not a single criminal has been convicted or given punishment as per law. “We being the citizens of India are ill-treated here as third grade populace. I have my democratic rights to protest in Noble Silence against more than 40 years of atrocities. Till the time Government of Meghalaya commit our fundamental rights and punish those culprits we shall not break our fasting,” he added.
Meanwhile, the permission to hold the protest has been given from 10 am to 4 pm and only 10 people are allowed to participate following all COVID-19 protocols.