Students’ union commemorates Khasi National Awakening Day
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 4: Commemorations for Khasi National Awakening Day briefly took a tense turn in Laban on Saturday as a KSU rally—intended to honour the 1829 resistance against the British led by U Tirot Singh—was marred by a stone-pelting incident and pre-emptive shop closures in the locality.
Shopkeepers in parts of Laban had downed their shutters as a precaution but business activities in other areas remained near normal. Security presence was heightened across key locations, with police personnel maintaining vigil.
The rally remained largely peaceful, barring a minor incident of stone-pelting reported near the Laban Police Station.
According to eyewitnesses, including local women, individuals from a nearby residence allegedly pelted stones at rally participants, prompting a brief retaliation from some KSU members.
KSU leaders, police personnel, and volunteers swiftly intervened, bringing the situation under control, and the rally proceeded without further disruption.
Speaking to media persons, former KSU president and chairman of the North East Students’ Organisation, Samuel Jyrwa said the rally was organised to commemorate the uprising and remind the community of its historical roots and responsibilities. He said the KSU observes the day as Khasi National Awakening Day to call upon the members of the community to remain alert and aware of developments around them, as well as the various challenges being faced by the tribe.
Jyrwa said April 4 was adopted as the Khasi National Awakening Day in 1993, the year when the KSU adopted its constitution.
