DC,DSP & students injured during protest

SHILLONG, NOV 10: West Jaintia hills deputy commissioner, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), three government officials and twenty students were injured during an impromptu protest march taken out by Kiang Nangbah Government College students on Tuesday.

The government officials were injured after agitating students started

pelting stones forcing the police to resort to mild lathi-charge and firing of tear gas shells.

Twenty students, both boys and girls, were also injured during the lathi-charge.

The incident took place after the students of the Kiang Nangbah Government College, Jowai took out a surprise march to the Deputy Commissioner’s office to protest the government’s failure to fulfill their 7-point demands.

The students have been demanding immediate extension of the main college building, delinking of Class XII, regularizing the services of 13 casual employees, renovation of Boys’ Hostel, repairing of the approach road, and others.

Prior to the march, the students had locked the gates of the college bringing the college to a standstill yesterday and today forcing the

police to break the lock.

“Five officials including the DC, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and police personnel were injured during the stone-pelting incident,” Deputy Commissioner Arunkumar Kembhavi informed.

Kembhavi, who was injured on his left wrist, informed that students had taken out the illegal procession without any permission and gheroad the DC’s office. He said despite the effort to convince them to disperse since the government had agreed to look into their demands the students failed to pay heed to the request and instead started pelting stones at the officials and police.

He said even after the use of water canon, the students refused to disperse adding “Police were then ordered to fire tear gas, followed by mild-lathi charge.”

Stating that the situation is under control, the DC informed, “The state government has agreed to comply with the demand put forth by the students.”

On the issue related to the demand for regularization of the services of the 13 employees, Kembhavi, however, said, “The government had only agreed to release their salaries nine months from December last year to September this year,” adding “However, with regards to regularization of their posts, the government is yet to take a call on the issue.”

When asked, the DC denied of receiving official information about students who were injured during the lathicharge incident.

However, some of the injured students who were admitted in the Jowai Civil Hospital have been identified as Shanborlang Bareh, Wanbha Daw, Subha Lamin, Lukas Sulip, Winlok Siangshai, Yimutmi Sutnga, Sambha Dhar, Gersome Shylla, Montekarlo Champa, Ebenezer Sutnga, Athira Lamurong, Chantis Phawa, Niyo Sana, Janison Pohlong, Kheinlang Langstang and two girls, Wana Shadap, Rilang Lamurong.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner said he has taken strong cognizance of the students studying in Class XI & XII for their alleged participation in the protest march today. According to him, as per the order of the education department, no students in uniform and studying in Class XI & XII should be found participating in any protest.

“We will be analyzing video footage taken during the incident and fixed strict responsibility against those found to be involved in the protest,” the DC warned while informing that the district administration is still examining filing complaint against the organizers of the protest.- By Our Reporter