SHILLONG, April 16: The KSU on Tuesday reiterated that it will not condone any abuse of power by police officials since there have been too many instances of police excesses against the indigenous communities.
In a letter addressed to Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home (Police), Prestone Tynsong, KSU Laban Circle president Reuben Najiar mentioned about the recent incident that took place on April 12, where a minor scuffle occurred among two groups of teenagers over a petty case of money lending or snatching.
According to Najiar, both the parties — one a group of Khasi boys and the other involving non-tribals — are residents of Laban and adjoining areas and are known to each other.
He said that after the minor scuffle, the issue was resolved and both the parties left for their respective residences.
“To our utter surprise, Laban Police personnel on their own accord went to the residence of one of the non-Khasi boys and asked him to come to the police station and forced him to lodge an FIR against the Khasi group,” Najiar claimed in his letter.
“In the meantime, a fake message and photo was circulated on WhatsApp that some person had been stabbed in Laban and is dead but the photo was of an elderly person who had passed away a few days earlier,” he said.
Najiar said the police arrested two Khasi boys in the Laban police station case No. 21(04) of 2024 and booked them under Section 307 (attempt to murder), Section 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder), Section 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and other sections under the IPC which is highly condemnable.
According to him, the manner in which Laban police handled the matter and made arrests is impartial and communal in nature.
The KSU leader accused police of using divisive tactic to turn non-indigenous communities against the Khasi community and to harass the local Khasis.
Najiar further questioned why police failed to act against the perpetrator(s) involved in spreading rumours and fake messages about a person being stabbed in Laban.
“The arrest of the Khasi boys over such a petty issue clearly indicates the blood lust of the Police department for the Khasi community,” he added.
