KSU alleges harassment of trucker by CRPF men

NONGPOH, Nov 1: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), North Khasi Hills District (KSU-NKHD) unit, on Tuesday alleged that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel had harassed a local trucker at the Pahammawlein toll plaza, Ri-Bhoi, and also damaged his truck.
According to the KSU, who visited the toll plaza during the day, the incident took place at around 8 pm on Monday when the trucker, despite paying the toll tax, was allegedly harassed by the CRPF personnel without any rhyme or reason.
Speaking to media persons, KSU-NKHD assistant organising secretary Baiashanlang Kharshanlor informed that the members of the KSU, following the development, visited the toll plaza to discuss the matter on Monday evening and Tuesday morning only to find the manager of the toll plaza absent.
Irked at the unavailability of the manager, the KSU has, meanwhile, asked the former to visit its office in Nongpoh on Thursday for discussions over the issue.
Meanwhile, the KSU has also demanded that the CRPF personnel deployed in the area be immediately removed.
“We would like to clearly state here that the concerned department of the government, who has deployed CRPF in this area, should remove them immediately, failing which the Union will take its own necessary steps,” Kharshanlor said.
During the day, the Dorbar Shnong of Pahammawlein 20 Mer along with the KSU 20 Mer Circle temporarily halted the tax collection at the toll plaza, alleging that the company allotted for the contract work to collect toll tax did not renew the No Objection Certificate (NOC) despite the village authority serving a multiple letters.
The toll tax collection, however, resumed after a two-hour hiatus, following the arrival of Ri-Bhoi Police and a subsequent parley.
Meanwhile, KSU Pahammawlein 20 Mer Circle, has claimed of receiving reports about alleged highhandedness of the manager of the toll plaza against the local employees.