SHILLONG, AUG 19: A black-flag bike rally organized by the Khasi Students’ Union on Wednesday turned violent in parts of the city, with several civilians assaulted and multiple vehicles, mostly government-owned, vandalized and set ablaze.
The protest was held against what the KSU termed the state government’s indifferent attitude toward its five-point charter of demands.
Incidents were reported from Polo, Barik and Mawlai.
A police escort vehicle, ML 05 AC 7081, had its side glass smashed.
A National Informatics Centre vehicle had its rear glass broken at Barik.
Other vehicles damaged include AS 01ES 8243, AS 11AH 5190, ML 01 5620 and ML 01 A 0966.
A pickup truck bearing registration ML 05 AD 0925 and a telecom department truck, AS 01P 2707, were also targeted.
At FCI Mawlai, a government vehicle was set on fire.
The glass panel of the statue of Swami Vivekananda installed by RRCWS in 2025 at RR Colony was damaged as well.
Earlier in the day, KSU activists staged a brief demonstration at the Main Secretariat where they put up banners accusing the government of nepotism and corruption in recruitment.
Police removed the banners within minutes and stepped up security around the Secretariat.
One banner read: “We study hard, we pass but at the end of the day jobs are given to those who can bribe.”
The rally followed a series of public meetings held by the KSU across Shillong on August 17 and 18 after the union served the state government a 15-day deadline.
The KSU has submitted a five-point charter and said its key concern relates to the public hearing for Shree Cement held on July 31, 2026 in East Jaintia Hills, which it has alleged was pre-arranged.
In this connection the union has sought action against the Deputy Commissioner, the Superintendent of Police, senior police officers and officials of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, and departmental proceedings against those accused of blocking public participation.
The charter also calls for full implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016 until an Inner Line Permit system is in place, with facilitation centres to be set up at all 18 entry points in Khasi and Jaintia Hills and verification to be carried out only by the Dorbar Shnong.
The union has further demanded immediate implementation of the amended Meghalaya Migrant Workmen Act, 2020, reforms in recruitment at NEIGRIHMS including an 80:20 female-to-male ratio for nurses and proper reservation for Khasis, Jaintias and Garos, and the removal of interviews for Grade B, C and D posts along with Standard Operating Procedures for all recruitment boards.
