Northeast Desk, 4th April: Officials have issued a high alert across Khasi and Jaintia hills in Meghalaya due to the “volatile situation” following the recent killing of two individuals. Last week, the bodies of two persons were discovered in the Ichamati area near the India-Bangladesh international boundary in East Khasi Hills district, following an anti-CAA protest staged by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in the border town.
On Tuesday, two KSU members were taken into custody from their residences in Sohra town and subsequently arrested for their alleged involvement in the murders, confirmed SP Rituraj Ravi. The police action led to protests by a large crowd led by the KSU in front of the local police station on Wednesday, demanding that its members not be treated as “militants”.
In a separate incident, a police vehicle was destroyed after unidentified individuals hurled a petrol bomb at Mawlai police station in Shillong, informed Ravi, stating that no arrests have been made thus far.
Responding to these incidents, Deputy Inspector General of Police DNR Marak issued an alert to the SPs of seven districts in the eastern range, including the state capital Shillong. Marak expressed concerns that NGOs might escalate their protests and target police stations, government properties, vehicles, and non-tribals.
Marak noted that the influential KSU is observing April 4 as ‘Khasi Awakening Day’, although permission for the same has been denied in Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills district. He instructed the SPs to take precautionary measures, including advising deputy commissioners to issue prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC, as NGOs may engage in impromptu protests on Thursday in any of the district headquarters.
“You are therefore directed to take all necessary precautions to prevent criminal elements from taking advantage of the day and the recent incidents whereby they may attempt to target government installations and non-tribals under your jurisdiction,” Marak emphasized.
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