Shillong, Nov 20: Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners & Drivers Association (MCTODA) has decided not to lodge any complaint against any alleged police excesses during the violent protest at Mawryngkneng junction.
Announcing the decision not to move the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) or lodge any FIR with police about the incident, MCTODA president Mosklandar Marngar on Thursday said, “We do not want to support the divide and rule policy among the Khasis.”
He also alleged that those who lathicharged on the protesters at Mawryngkneng were “non-tribal” policemen, who communicated in Hindi, as witnessed by members and woman tea‑sellers on the road.
“The lathicharge was executed by non‑tribal police force, This we know because they were communicating in Hindi,” he said.
Asserting that their protest was never against the state government but against the cement factories, Marngar further alleged a conspiracy between the government and out‑of‑state business tycoons to divide the Khasi community.
Meanwhile, he informed that the association will bear the medical expenses of injured members.
Association member Lamiki Rabon said he was injured in the leg during the protest.
Another member, Yomi Sutnga, said, “It was never us who started — in fact it was the police. When we were sending away the trucks, police were escorting the trucks. After a few minutes, police started using tear gas and lathi charge.”
Marngar justified the decision to avoid MHRC, citing doubts over the commission’s impartiality and fear of retaliation against local police and administration personnel, which could exacerbate communal division.
“Why we will not file a complaint to the MHRC because we feel that the commission will not look into the issues faced by us… This will give rise to divide and rule policy among people.”
