NFR report on attack to PM, Ministry soon

SHILLONG: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) will soon submit a report on the recent attack at the construction site at Ronghuna in Ri Bhoi on Saturday to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Railways. An official of NFR said the matter has been verbally intimated to the Prime Minister’s level and the Ministry and a detailed report will be sent shortly. On whether the project will be scrapped, the official said it depends on the Centre and the State Government. At the same time, the of ficial added that the railway project is “to benefit the mass” and should not be cancelled for a group of 100- 200 people. “Locals are happy with the project since they are getting employment opportunity,” the NFR official said. The attack on construction workers on Saturday was the second such incident. A few years ago, a similar attack at the site led to a setback as the implementing agency refused to come back to Meghalaya. “The workers who are there are Indians and they are not from Pakistan that they should be harassed and beaten in that way,” the official said. NFR is also in contact with the additional chief secretary in charge of transport, besides the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police of Ri Bhoi district. Rly engineer lodges FIR A junior engineer of the Northeast Frontier Railway has lodged an FIR in connection with Saturday’s violence, police said. Kamalendra Kalita, a junior engineer (works/construction), lodged a complaint at Byrnihat outpost. The report said the attack at the construction site at Ronghuna in Ri Bhoi left three workers and three police personnel injured. Around 100 KSU activists from Shillong and Ri Bhoi burnt heavy vehicles. The three workers who were assaulted are Pacham Sinha, Masil Ahmed and Md. Sujen Khan. The three injured cops – Gideon Teron (29), Philip Maring (46) and Utpal Gogoi (39) – were on duty at the site. The victims were shifted to CH Nongpoh. According to police, around 4 pm on the same day when police attempted to arrest the KSU leaders, the agitators started shouting slogans and demanded that their leaders be released. They also pelted stones at the police and the public in Nongpoh that prompted the magistrate to order lathicharge. The situation was brought under control around 7.30 pm