SHILLONG, MAY 29: There was total chaos on Friday when police resorted to lathi-charge injuring men and women who returned from a meeting of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) after police claimed that they violated section 144 CrPC when they insisted on taking the Barik route, where former KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum is staging an indefinite hunger strike and Section 144 CrPC is in force.
The public meeting called by the HYC was held at Laban ground to protest against state government’s delay to approve the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill.
Heavy security, including CRPF, police and SWAT teams were deployed in and around Barik area to Laban ground.
Last night the district administration had imposed section 144 CrPC in Barik point, where Adelbert Nongrum is staging the hunger strike.
Soon after the meeting got over, people started coming out from the venue walked towards the Shillong Civil hospital in Barik.Police, however, stopped them and asked to go towards Rhino side.
However according to East Khasi hills SP M Kharkhrang the group insisted on passing through Barik point where section 144 CrPC was in force. He said women were put upfront when police tried to stop the crowd from proceeding through the prohibited areas
Kharkhrang said there were jostling and police had to resort to lathi-charge when the group tried to force through the prohibited area. He said, “ Despite repeatedly telling them, they broke all laws.”
Women police were also in the scene but some of the injured persons alleged that the male police lathicharged them.
Kharkhrang, however, refuted by saying that there was a mixed crowd with women upfront and both male and female police tried to stop them.
Some of the injured were those who had not attended the meeting but were only passing through the place.
As many as twenty people including women who were injured were rushed to Civil hospital with head, hands, feet, and spine injuries.
Shillong city SP Vivek Syiem was also jostled and boxed police claimed.
HYC vice president Donbok Kharlyngdoh and socio cultural secretary Markos R Myrthong were also injured during the lathi charge when they tried to help the women.
An injured Shirita Wanniang from Mawkasiang said, “In fact I have not attended any public meeting but I was on my way to Laban for some personal work. On reaching Shillong Civil junction, I was also beaten up by the police.”
Like Wanniang, Gilbert Myrboh who hails from Mawlynrei also became victim of the chaos and lathi charge as he said he was also beaten up when he was on his way to visit and attend to his ailing uncle admitted in the Shillong Civil Hospital for past two weeks.
The police lathi-charge has attracted condemnation and Shynsharlin Pathaw from Mawlai wanted state home minister to resign.- By Our Reporter
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