Meghalaya Police have arrested another leader of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in connection with the violence that broke out during a KSU rally in Shillong on August 19. With the latest arrest, four KSU leaders have so far been arrested in connection with the case.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma condemned the violence during the ongoing autumn session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and assured that strict action would be taken against those responsible.
According to figures presented by the Chief Minister, a total of 31 vehicles were damaged during the violence, including eight vehicles registered in Assam. As many as 18 people were injured and received treatment at Shillong Civil Hospital.
The state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the Inspector General of Police in charge of law and order to investigate the incidents. A total of 15 FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence.
The Meghalaya Department of Arts and Culture has decided to undertake the restoration and reinstallation of the statues of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda, which were damaged during the violence at RR Colony.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the vandalism and violence. The state government has submitted a status report before the court.
The High Court expressed strong dissatisfaction over the pace of the investigation, observing that although several KSU leaders had been arrested, others allegedly involved in the attacks were yet to be apprehended.
Two High Court vehicles were also attacked during the violence, while a security guard and a driver were allegedly assaulted.
The court has directed the authorities to produce the case diaries relating to these specific incidents and ordered the investigation into all the cases to be expedited. The state government has been asked to submit a fresh status report on September 1.
Meanwhile, Assam-based Kutumba Suraksha Parishad has been protesting against the August 19 violence since the incident. The organisation has also filed an FIR demanding the invocation of the National Security Act (NSA) against those responsible for the attacks.
In a related development, Meghalaya social worker H. Bansiewdor Nonglang has filed an FIR at Shillong Sadar Police Station against Parishad chief Satyaranjan Bora.
According to the complaint, Bora has allegedly made provocative, derogatory and inflammatory remarks on social media targeting the Khasi community, the Khasi Students’ Union and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
The latest developments have added another dimension to the continuing tensions following the August 19 violence in Shillong, with investigations and legal proceedings now underway in both Meghalaya and Assam.