By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 15: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday said the state government showed its oppressive face during the Tura violence by using the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), a law that deals with terrorists and banned organisations, against protestors.
“I am perturbed by what happened in Tura and the subsequent reaction of the authorities, which seemed pre-planned,” the TMC’s parliamentary party leader Mukul Sangma said.
Recalling the stone-pelting at dusk, he said: “It was the first time we saw the anti-terrorist UAPA being used against the common people wanting to be heard by the government.”
He said he was appalled by the audacity of the government in slapping the UAPA on students pursuing their academic careers. “It indicated that the government is becoming the main perpetrator of crime instead of ensuring justice to the people,” he added.
The TMC leader said that the careers of the youths booked were as important as that of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. “The government must rectify the wrongs done to them,” he said, accusing the authorities of inflicting physical and psychological injury to the people.