Umroi, Sept 27: Hundreds of members and leaders of prominent pressure groups from the Khasi Hills region of the State on Friday gathered in front of the Shillong Airport at Umroi in Ri Bhoi District to stage protest against the arrival of the Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra leaders led by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Shri Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati for their proposed cow protection rally in Shillong.
Upon learning of the expected arrival of anti-cow slaughter rally leaders, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), the Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) and the Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HIITO) leaders along with their members rushed to the Shillong Airport to protest the Hindu leaders visit.
To prevent any law and order situation, Ri Bhoi District Administration deployed police teams and magistrate at the location around the Airport.
However, at around 1 PM in the afternoon, they learnt that Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and how entourage had postponed their visit to the State to Saturday (September 28). The leaders of the pressure groups were also informed by the Ri Bhoi District Magistrate that the district administration has enforced provisions to not allow the arrival of the Hindu Yatra leaders at the Shillong Airport in the days to come to prevent any untoward incident.
Following the assurance from the district administration, the protesting groups left the Airport with a stern warning that the state government would need to take responsibility for any law and order breakdown in the state if the Hindu Yatra leaders were allowed to hold the cow protection or anti-cow slaughter rally in Shillong.
Meanwhile, national coordinator of Gau Gathbhandan, Raja Saksham Singh Yogi, confirmed the change in plan for Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswat’s arrival to Shillong, citing logistical issues and confusion.
The Hindu group had to turn back from the airports in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland on Thursday as the State administrations did not allow them to exit the airport over protests at their arrival and anticipated law and order breakdown if they continued with their cow protection rally.
