SHILLONG, Oct 31: After failing to take pre-emptive steps to quell the violence that was unleashed on innocent bystanders by masked miscreants during the rally against unemployment called by the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), the police and the district administration have now gone into active mode with three noticeable actions taken on Monday.
In the first act, police arrested a person in connection with Friday’s incident. A senior police official told The Shillong Times on Monday evening that the person was not directly involved with Friday’s violence. He was picked up from Laban area on charge of forcing shops to down their shutters after the rally had ended, the officer said.
After making the arrest, police issued summons to FKJGP general secretary Eldie N Lyngdoh and senior vice president Elton Cliff Warjri, directing them to appear at Sadar police station on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
The third and the most prominent action taken by the district administration on Monday came close on the heels of a review meeting on the prevailing law and order situation chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and attended by Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, officials of the Home department, Director-General of Police LR Bishnoi, East Khasi Hills District Magistrate Isawanda Laloo, among others.
Following the meeting, the district administration decided not to give any permission to hold public rallies in the state capital until further orders.
Hours after the meeting, the District Magistrate invoked Section 144 CrPC with an aim to prevent any NGO or group or untoward elements from blatantly misusing such rallies/processions to indulge in criminal acts, thereby disrupting public order and any other such acts which cause severe inconvenience to the public at large.
The order banned the assembly of five or more persons for the purpose of any rally or procession within the whole Shillong City limits, including the Shillong Urban Agglomeration area.
“Any violation of the said order will attract penal provisions under Section 188 of the IPC and any other as deemed fit and appropriate. In view of the urgency of the matter, this order is being passed ex parte and it shall come into force with immediate effect and remain in force until further orders,” the order said.
The order also said that NGOs/ groups/ organisers carry out processions/rallies within the city limits of Shillong from time to time for protesting against various issues but it is seen that the organisers do not comply with either one or many of the conditions imposed by the authorities.
“Such processions also cause severe inconvenience and disturbance to commuters, pedestrians, schoolchildren, parents and the public at large. In one such rally held in Shillong on 28th October 2022, several incidents of assault of commuters and vandalism of vehicles took place which caused a fear psychosis amongst the public at large,” the order said, adding: “It is learnt that other NGOs and groups are also planning similar events such as ‘surprise rallies’ within the limits of Shillong City.”
The order issued by the District Magistrate comes at a time when there is palpable fear among residents of the city after unconfirmed reports said that members of the Hynniewtrep A’chik National Movement (HANM), Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), East Jaintia National Council (EJNC), Jaintia Students’ Movement (JSM) and Confederation of Ri-Bhoi People (CoRP), under the banner of ‘Save Hynniewtrep Mission’, will organise a rally in the city on Tuesday to pressurise the government to fulfil their demands like relocation of the 342 families from Them Iew Mawlong, review of the border MoU signed by Meghalaya and Assam, action against the police personnel responsible for the death of former HNLC leader Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, action against corruption and action on the unemployment crisis. The unconfirmed report also said that a large number group of members of the EJNC will be proceeding to Shillong from Jaintia Hills to participate in the rally.
The Shillong Times could not independently verify the reports.
Earlier, a reliable source confirmed that a case has been registered against the two FKJGP leaders at Sadar police station as well as Laitumkhrah police station.
“In exercise of the powers conferred under subsection (1) of section 41A of CrPC, I hereby inform that during the investigation of FIR vide Case No 150(10)2022 dated 28.10.2022 U/s 341/ 324/ 353/ 505/ 506/ 34 IPC registered at Laitumkhrah Police Station, it is revealed that there are reasonable grounds to question you to ascertain facts and circumstances from you in relation to the present investigation. Hence you are directed to appear before me at 10:00 am on 01.11.2022 at Sadar Police Station, Shillong,” the summon issued to Lyngdoh said.
The summon also asked the FKJGP leader to comply with directives like he will not commit any offence in future and not tamper with the evidences in the case in any manner whatsoever.
“You will not make any threat, inducement, or promise to any person acquainted with the fact of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such fact to the court or to the Police Officer. You will appear before the Court as and when required/directed. You will join the investigation of the case as and when required and will cooperate in the investigation,” the summon said.
