Shillong, Aug 21: Pressure is mounting on the Meghalaya government to defuse the post-rally crisis, with the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) on Friday demanding immediate release of arrested Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) leaders and direct talks to restore normalcy.
Condemning the violence during KSU’s black flag bike rally on August 19, the UDP youth wing said jailing leaders in Tura and Williamnagar after they had offered to cooperate with police was “not appropriate” and would only inflame the situation.
The party also slammed the police action at the KSU central office, alleging tear gas firing and forced entry into a premises located in a residential area close to a hospital.
“Why was adequate security not provided for the rally when police protection is routine for political programmes? Opportunists violated human rights and hijacked the protest,” the youth wing said, questioning the government’s intent.
The statement, signed by Chief Youth Organiser Auguster Jyrwa and Joint Secretary Desmond K L Mawlong, comes a day after three senior KSU leaders were remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody by the District and Sessions Court, Shillong.
The UDP said the KSU leadership had already distanced itself from the violence and offered to help identify those responsible for stone-pelting and attacks on vehicles, including government vehicles and vehicles registered outside Meghalaya.
Flagging the fallout beyond Shillong, the UDP warned that reports of Meghalaya-registered vehicles being stopped at Jorabat and threats to push Meghalaya students out of Assam could snowball into inter-community tensions and hit public movement.
The KSU had launched the rally after its 15-day deadline ended, pressing a five-point charter — action over the Shree Cement public hearing in East Jaintia Hills, MPSC/DSC recruitment reforms, stronger MRSSA implementation with entry-point checks, recruitment reforms at NEIGRIHMS and curbs on migrant workers.
The UDP urged the government not to divert from the core demands and to choose dialogue over detention to bring peace back to the state.
