By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 5: Tension flared in the ongoing industrial dispute as police forces clashed violently with members of the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Drivers Association (MCTODA) at Mawryngkneng late on Tuesday night, employing a lathi-charge and firing stun and smoke grenades to break up an indefinite blockade.
The confrontation resulted in the arrest of four individuals, including MCTODA president Moskalander Marngar, who face serious charges such as obstruction, assault, and attempted murder.
Amidst this volatility, the Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar rejected MCTODA’s central demand for uniform transportation rates outside the state as unacceptable, leading MCTODA to decline further talks until its arrested leaders are released and announce plans to move the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the High Court over alleged police excess.
Concurrently, the East Khasi Hills administration immediately banned all public demonstrations in the Mawryngkneng C&RD Block.
‘Uniform transportation rates call unacceptable’
Although the state government declared it cannot accept the demand of the MCTODA for uniform transportation rates for cement and clinker outside Meghalaya, it has however opened the door for dialogue to resolve the issue.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who is also the Transport Minister, said some associations of truckers are asking cement companies to pay them as per the notified rates of the Meghalaya government.
“After I asked for a report from cement companies, they confirmed that they are paying as per the notified rates of the government,” Dhar said, adding that two associations of tuckers are working amicably with cement companies.
However, the MCTODA is demanding uniform rates for the transportation of cement and clinker outside the state. It is protesting alleged disparity in transportation rates, citing that the rate within Meghalaya is Rs 9 per tonne per km but it drops to Rs 5 outside the state, a difference it deems unacceptable.
But Dhar said, “It is not possible for us to notify the rates on behalf of the Assam government.”
The government-notified rates within Meghalaya are Rs 11 per metric tonne per km for blacktopped roads, Rs 12 per metric tonne per km for gravelled top roads, and Rs 14 per metric tonne per km for kutcha roads.
Talking about the incident, Dhar said the law had to take its own course as the situation was not conducive.
Home Minister Prestone Tynsong said discussions were held at the SP and the DC levels on the issue. He questioned the motive behind shifting the agitation from Jaintia Hills to Khasi Hills.
“The government’s doors are open, but they should not create such disruptions,” he said.
Police arrest four including MCTODA chief
The police arrested four individuals, including the president of the MCTODA, Moskalander Marngar, for allegedly obstructing a police team escorting cement and clinker-laden trucks from Puriang.
The other arrested individuals have been identified as Heibor Pariat, Thrangbor Lyngdoh, and Teibor Marngar.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Vivek Syiem, said that three cases have been registered at Mawryngkneng Police Station under various sections of the MMPO Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The charges include obstruction of officers on duty, assault, abduction, kidnapping, and attempted murder. All four accused were produced before the court on Wednesday.
According to Syiem, a police team was obstructed at Mawryngkneng junction by around 200 individuals, most of whom were MCTODA members.
Despite repeated appeals from the Magistrate on duty to allow the trucks to move, the crowd refused to disperse, forcing the police to resort to a lathi charge to control the situation.
In the ensuing chaos, one truck handyman was reportedly abducted by the mob, while a truck driver sustained injuries after being assaulted.
The SP further stated that EKH Police is coordinating with Ri-Bhoi and West Jaintia Hills Police to ensure that there is no disruption of movement of trucks.
Truckers’ body vows to move NHRC, MHRC and High Court
The MCTODA has decided to approach the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC), besides filing an application before the High Court of Meghalaya, over the alleged use of excessive force by the police that led to injuries to several of its members during a midnight clash at Puriang, Mawryngkneng around 12:40 am.
The association’s members had been staging an indefinite blockade, stopping trucks carrying cement and clinker bound for various factories in Jaintia Hills. The agitation, which began on October 27, was aimed at pressing for the association’s demand that cement companies pay transportation charges as per government-approved rates, along with other pending issues.
MCTODA adviser Balajied Jyrwa said the association was in the process of filing formal complaints with the human rights bodies. “We are ready with the documents, but since the High Court and lower courts are on holiday, we will wait until Monday to file our applications before the High Court as well as both human rights commissions,” he said.
Jyrwa said the incident took place when most of the drivers were asleep inside their vehicles and were unaware of the situation. “However, some members of the village community who were present at the site witnessed the events and later shared video footage with the association. The videos clearly show that children and women were present at the protest site when police fired stun and smoke grenades,” he said.
He alleged that some of the police personnel from Mawryngkneng Police Station were under the influence of alcohol while on duty and that their actions provoked chaos at the site.
“They started creating a ruckus, and when the stun and smoke grenades were thrown into the crowd where even children were present, the protesters retaliated,” Jyrwa added.
The adviser also revealed that Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who also holds the transport portfolio, had called one of the MCTODA secretaries for a meeting. However, the association declined the invitation, reiterating that it would not hold any discussions until all its arrested leaders are released.
“We have made it very clear that we will not engage in any talks until our nine members, including the president Moskalander Marngar, are released,” Jyrwa asserted.
He further alleged that during earlier discussions, representatives of the cement factories had failed to reach a conclusion and instead threatened the association members with arrest.
Tension had flared at Mawryngkneng around midnight on Tuesday when police personnel from Mawryngkneng Police Station and the Special Operation Team (SOT) of East Khasi Hills attempted to clear the route blocked by the protesting truckers. When the members refused to disperse, police reportedly resorted to a lathi-charge and fired tear gas shells to control the crowd.
The situation quickly escalated, resulting in several injuries among MCTODA members. Videos shared by the association and local villagers showed scenes of chaos as smoke filled the area and residents, including children, fled in panic.
MCTODA has since blamed the police for mishandling the situation, while the police have defended their actions, stating that the use of force was necessary to clear the highway and restore order.
Demonstrations banned in Mawryngkneng
The East Khasi Hills district administration has clamped down on public demonstrations and rallies in the Mawryngkneng area, citing concerns over potential disturbance to peace and obstruction to traffic movement after the gatherings organised by the MCTODA, which has been agitating over disparities in transportation rates.
District Magistrate RM Kurbah issued the directive under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) prohibiting any individual or group from holding demonstrations or rallies within the Mawryngkneng C&RD Block. The order also bans the carrying of arms, lethal weapons, or any objects that could be used to inflict harm.
The administration has warned that any violation will invite legal action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other applicable laws. The order takes effect immediately and will remain in force until further notice.
