SHILLONG, Nov 5: Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Saturday made it clear that Section 144 CrPC which was promulgated in East Khasi Hills after the recent violence in the city will remain as long as the district administration deems it fit.
“District administration imposed Section 144 CrPC depending upon the prevailing situation and it will be there as long as it is needed,” said Rymbui while reacting to the demand of various pressure groups of the state to withdraw the prohibitory order.
The Home minister said, “The district administration will review the situation and if it is conducive, then we will withdraw it at any point of time”. On the continuous demand for its withdrawal, he said, “We cannot say we can withdraw (the order) today or tomorrow. It depends on the situation and assessment of the district administration”.
After failing to take pre-emptive steps to quell the violence that was unleashed on innocent bystanders by masked miscreants during the rally against unemployment called by the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), the police and the district administration had recently decided on taking action.
After a review meeting on the prevailing law and order situation chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and attended by Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, officials of the Home department, Director-General of Police LR Bishnoi, East Khasi Hills District Magistrate Isawanda Laloo, among others, the district administration decided not to give any permission to hold public rallies in the state capital until further orders.
Hours after the meeting, the district magistrate invoked Section 144 CrPC with an aim to prevent any NGO or group or untoward elements from blatantly misusing such rallies/processions to indulge in criminal acts, thereby disrupting public order and any other such acts which cause severe inconvenience to the public at large.
However, pressure groups are demanding the withdrawal of section 144 CrPC.
