SHILLONG: The first meeting of the High Level Committee to examine the issues related to the shifting of the residents of Punjabi Lane (Them Iew Mawlong) will be held on Wednesday.
After meeting the pressure groups, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the government will immediately start the work to discuss the modalities on the issue.
The terms of reference of the committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong is to “examine all relevant records and documents related to the relocation of the Sweeper Colony, Sweeper Lane, Mawlong Hat and to recommend practically feasible solutions for relocation”.
The representatives of 12 organisations — HYC, HANM, East Jaintia National Conference (EJNC), Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF), Western Youth Federation (WYF) ,CORP, SSSS, RBSU, WKSU, All Jaintia Students Union (AJSU), JSU and Meghalaya People’s United Front (MPUF) — had a meeting with the chief minister to discuss the current situation.
The organisations pointed out that there was laxity on the part of the police to arrest all the culprits involved in the assault of Khasi youths at Punjabi Lane and also those who were brandishing swords.
The organisations also pointed out that there is a need to decongest Sweeper Lane and make it a prime economic zone while they also wanted the government to lift the curfew.
The pressure groups also said that security personnel entering residential areas should be stopped and added that all those who were arrested should be released unconditionally.
Asked about the demand of the pressure groups for the release of the arrested persons, the chief minister said while the government feels for them, individual cases will be examined and those who are innocent will be spared.
