‘Masked individuals armed with sticks, rods were seen at rally’
Shillong, Aug 20: The East Khasi Hills district administration has rejected the KSU’s claim that miscreants or opportunists hijacked its bike rally to defame the Union, saying the KSU’s version does not match with the available evidence.
“Any argument has to be examined against the evidence which is there with us. In this case, at least in the rally itself, there were several individuals who were armed with sticks, rods, number plates were covered. They had masks on their faces,” Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal said on Thursday while responding to the Union’s claim.
He said the pattern of violence points against the claim of isolated acts by outsiders.
“Simultaneously, it was not just a couple of incidents which happened along the route, there was a series of incidents. If you examine these incidents, I don’t think the argument is very consistent with the evidence,” he said.
The DC said the matter is under investigation and it will be for the judiciary to decide on conspiracy or pre-planning.
“It is a matter of investigation and ultimately an FIR has been filed. Whether it was pre-planned or conspired, whether it was instigated or whether some unruly or anti-social elements tried to hijack their rally is something which will come out in investigation and which is for the judiciary to decide,” he said.
He added, “However, as of now, since the incident happened only yesterday, we have to examine any argument against the evidence available with us and the evidence is there for everyone to see. It is out there on social media, on media channels.”
“It is up to everyone’s guess whether it was pre-planned or whether it is members of the organization or there were unruly elements who tried to take advantage of the bike rally,” Baranwal said.
