FIR lodged on petrol bomb attack on police at KSU office
Shillong, Aug 20: Acting tough on the violence-ridden KSU protest, the state government has decided to invoke the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (MMPO) Act to recover damages to public and private property during KSU’s black-flag bike rally on Wednesday.
The police have also lodged an FIR for petrol bomb attack on police during a raid at the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) office at Jaiaw, Shillong.
Three top KSU leaders – president Raymond Kharjana, vice-president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar – have been arrested during a night raid conducted after the rally.
East Khasi Hills district Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal on Thursday said the rally had violated permission conditions and had become an unlawful assembly.
“The rally conditions have been violated. Accordingly, there is a condition in the permission itself that if these conditions are violated, it becomes an unlawful act and the permission stands revoked. So it becomes an unlawful assembly and accordingly an FIR has been filed and investigation is under process,” Baranwal said.
He said efforts are under way to identify others involved in arson, vandalism and assaults.
Giving details of the damage, the DC said, “Even private vehicles have been damaged, 16 confirmed reports of assaults on individuals have taken place, two statues of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda have been vandalised and simultaneously two vehicles – one government vehicle and one with registration from outside – have been torched.”
On recovery of damages, Baranwal said, “We are going to invoke the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act and impose financial sanctions for all damage to public and private property. As per the Act, the organization or individuals responsible for causing damage as part of any procession or rally are liable to pay. We will issue orders accordingly.”
The DC also announced revocation of permission granted to KSU for its proposed agitation on Friday.
“In light of what has happened, even when permission was given for the bike rally, through formal and informal conversations, we were assured that it is going to be a peaceful rally and there will be no repeat of past incidents. However, since conditions were violated and a series of vandalism, arson and assault cases were reported yesterday, the permission given for their protest tomorrow will be revoked,” he said.
On the police raid at the KSU office at Jaiaw on Wednesday night, Baranwal said an FIR has been filed for a petrol bomb attack on police.
“After the arrest of the three KSU leaders, police wanted to arrest those who were directly involved and could be verified to be involved in the assault. So they went to the KSU office in Jaiaw. When they approached the office, a petrol bomb was hurled at them. Accordingly, an FIR has been filed for that petrol bomb attack,” he said.
He said the police response was proportionate.
“There was no indiscriminate use of stun grenades or tear gas, they had to use one stun grenade and tear gas just to disperse the crowd which was trying to attack police forces. After community leaders approached, police quickly withdrew to not cause further inconvenience. There was no intention from the police side to cause disturbance to those not part of the protest and the aggression was from their side,” he said.
The DC said 16 assault cases have been reported and the injured have been given medical care at Civil Hospital.
He said the government will issue helpline numbers for stranded tourists and assured medical care for all victims.
On whether curfew will be imposed, he said, “Curfew is basically a last resort measure.”
On coordination with Assam following reports of Meghalaya vehicles being stopped near Jorabat, he said coordination is happening at district administration and government-to-government level.
