SHILLONG, MAR 23: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Monday forced closure of a voter-enrollment Facilitation Centre set up in the office of the East Khasi hills deputy commissioner. A 60 members group of KSU marched to the DC office and demanded immediately closure of the centre in view of the assurance made by the state government two years back.
On Monday the facilitation centre had a long queue of applicants for enrollment of voters who are specifically from Mawryngkneng block.
KSU organizing secretary Bansharai Warjri said, “We strongly opposed the move of the government re-set up such facilitation centre in the DC office.” Recalling that the KSU had opposed setting up of such centres in 2012, he said, “The state government had then assured us to stop the centre.”
According to Warjri, the KSU had insisted of having such centres at the respective areas to ensure that no doubtful or dubious voters get to enroll in the Electoral Roll of the state. He said, “This is because that the presence of the headmen of the respective blocks or villages is important as they can identify who is genuine resident and who is not.”
Warjri also alleged that most of the applicants who came to the DC office today were mostly non-indigenous community.
“During 2012, we had also encountered non-indigenous persons who are of 50 years of age coming to the facilitation centre for voter’s identity card (EPIC),” Warjri said questioning why it took so long for people of such age to enroll if were really genuine citizens of the state.
Earlier, additional district magistrate R Wahlang had intervened into the sudden protest by the KSU members as the deputy commissioner was not present. Warjri informed that Wahlang had told them that they cannot take a call on closing the centre but the KSU insisted the centre should be closed.- By Our Reporter
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