Shillong, Nov 26:The Save Hynniewtrep Mission leaders on Saturday demanded trials by courts in Meghalaya against those involved in the killing of Mukroh villagers.
After the protest and burning of effigies of political leaders infront of the official residence of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma here on Saturday, the protesters said there is a need to carry out trials by courts in Meghalaya even if the CBI conducts the inquiry.
Enhancement of compensation amount to the relatives of the victims by Meghalaya government, registering FIR within Meghalaya by Meghalaya police or CBI, arresting the police and forest guards involved in the incident and bringing them to Meghalaya were other demands.
Earlier, the effigies of union home minister Amit Shah, Conrad, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and state home minister Lahkmen Rymbui were burnt by protesters near the CM’s official residence at Polo in protest against their failure to resolve the boundary dispute which has resulted in the loss of many precious lives.
The Save Hynniewtrep Mission that carried out the surprise protest is supported by five pressure groups Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), East Jaintia National Council (EJNC), Jaintia Students’ Movement (JSM), Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) and Confederation of Ri Bhoi People (CoRP).
Heated argument
The protest was not free from resistance by the government machinery as there was a heated argument between the leaders of the groups and officials of the district administration after they were not allowed to burn the effigies in front of the CM’s bungalow.
Later, the pressure groups were asked to carry out their protest on the middle of the road, which was just fifty meters away from the CM’s residence.
Overspeeding govt vehicles
The protesters confronted the police and magistrates after two police gypsies came in high speed and was about to hit those at the protest venue. The situation was brought under control after police assured to take action against the two vehicles.
Not a fight between Khasis & Assamese
Prior to the burning of effigies, the HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin said, “We want to make it very clear that this is not a fight between the Khasis and Assamese people but this is a fight against the failure of the three governments – Government of India, Government of Meghalaya and Government of Assam– to resolve the long pending boundary dispute.”
Resolve border dispute
Kharjahrin said the firing incident could have been avoided if the MDA government had kept its promise to resolve the second phase of border dispute within 45 days as per its recent notification.
“The five groups want to send a clear message to the Union home minister and the 36 MLAs of Khasi-Jaintia Hills that they should start the second phase of border talks and resolve the dispute in the remaining six areas of difference before the 2023 Assembly polls”, he said.
The HYC leader said the groups are ready to give full support for resolving the border dispute. “Headman of Mukroh has all the documents to substantiate the claim that the village falls under Meghalaya and we want Mukroh to be in Meghalaya forever”, he added.
Deploy SF-10, SOT in border
He said the situation is very bad in the border areas and added that the groups also demanded the state government to deploy all SF-10 and SOT personnel to all villages along the inter-state border and protect the people there and not wait for them to be injured and killed by Assam police.
He also asked all concerned not to communalise the border issue.
“If the NGOs and people of Assam cross the line, we will also be compelled to do the same. This issue is related to border disputes which both the governments have to resolve immediately and not allow it to turn into communalism.”
Mobile internet ban decried
He criticised the government’s decision to ban mobile internet and added, “The internet ban is not only depriving people of their livelihood and their better future but the internet ban has got only one intention and that is to minimize the damage to the NPP ahead of the election. Similarly, the imposition of 144 CrPC in the entire city is nothing but to prevent people from taking out democratic agitations due to fear of losing the election.”
