A heavy security presence was witnessed near the life-size statue of legendary freedom fighter U Kiang Nangbah opposite Civil Hospital, Shillong, on Monday after the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) announced plans to hold a sit-in protest at the site from 11 am.
The East Khasi Hills district administration has denied permission to the student body to stage the demonstration in support of its five-point charter of demands.
Despite the denial, the KSU has so far not disclosed its next course of action. Security personnel were deployed in large numbers around the proposed protest site as authorities remained on alert to prevent any untoward incident and maintain law and order.
The KSU has also announced similar sit-in programmes in seven districts of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills on Tuesday.
The heightened security comes amid continued tensions following the violence that erupted during the KSU’s black-flag bike rally in Shillong on August 19.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal had earlier said Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel were conducting extensive patrolling across Shillong to reassure residents and strengthen security.
He said the enhanced deployment and patrolling would continue until citizens regained a sense of security.
With the KSU yet to announce its response to the denial of permission, security agencies remained on standby at key locations across the city while authorities continued to closely monitor the situation.