SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party (UDP) has asserted that the attack on the vehicle of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) general secretary Donald Thabah is neither linked to the party nor to politics.
Mawprem, an area which is well known for violent incidents in the run-up to elections came under scanner again when Thabah’s vehicle was attacked on Sunday at around 1:30 am.
Addressing reporters here on Tuesday, UDP MDC candidate for Jaiaw seat, Paul Lyngdoh said, “It is very clear that there is an attempt to insinuate to link the incident to the party and to me as well being a candidate of UDP.”
Stating that the damage to the vehicle of Thabah is not an isolated one, he informed there were other incidents in Lumkshaid, Mawprem wherein 10 days ago, the vehicle of the Rangbah Dong was also damaged and there were attempts to loot a house also.
According to Lyngdoh, drug scene and other anti-social elements takes place under the cover of darkness and asserted that such criminal incidents/activities cannot be linked to politics.
He accused the Congress party for making an attempt to shift the blame to the UDP.
“The incident is highly condemnable and the attempt to insinuate that there is politics is highly irresponsible,” he said.
Lyngdoh, who is a former president of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), will face the former general secretary of the union, Auguster Jyrwa who is contesting from the Congress.
Meanwhile, president of Jaiaw MDC constituency, Michael War said that the party had appealed to its members in the constituency to maintain peace and harmony during the elections.
“Donald (Thabah) has no involvement in the election because KSU has no such involvement in elections and I wonder what the miscreant’s agenda behind the attack is,” he said.
He said, “On our part, we are on the lookout as to the people who are involved and we believe we will find out the miscreants.”
With Thabah refusing to file an FIR over the incident, vice-president of the UDP, Allantry Dkhar urged Thabah to file an FIR to ensure that such incidents are curbed.
