SHILLONG, AUG 24: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said the state government has taken strong note of the violent incidents during the black-flag bike rally in Shillong on August 19 and will leave no stone unturned to ensure miscreants are brought to justice.
Presenting a suo-motu statement on the first day of the Assembly autumn session, Sangma said, “On August 19, a black-flag bike rally by the Khasi Students Union was undertaken on the approval of the deputy commissioner East Khasi Hills district with an undertaking from the KSU that the bike rally will be peaceful.”
“However during the rally, some miscreants indulged in violent acts including pelting stones at 31 vehicles and attacking innocent bystanders which included 8 vehicles with Assam registration. 18 people were injured and all were taken for medical attention to Shillong civil hospital,” he said.
The chief minister informed that on the same night, the president, vice president and the general secretary of the KSU were arrested under various sections of the BNSS and the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (MMPO) Act was invoked.
“15 FIRs have been filed so far in connection with the incident on August 19. 5 masked persons have been so far been identified as being involved in the incident of August 19 particularly in the attacks on Assam registered vehicles. One has already been arrested,” he said.
He also announced that the government has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to identify and investigate all miscreants involved in the violence in Shillong particularly those responsible for attacks on Assam registered vehicles and to ensure their prosecution in accordance with law.
“The SIT is headed by IG law and order,” Sangma stated.
To ensure normalcy between Assam and Meghalaya, the CM said a joint meeting was held on August 22 between two delegations.
“Meghalaya delegation was headed by deputy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar and Assam delegation was headed by senior minister Atul Bora. The meeting was attended by respective chief secretaries and senior officials,” he said.
Based on the meeting, the road blockade at Jorabat by the Assam associations was called off leading to resumption of normalcy in the movement of essential commodities across the state.
“A dedicated hotline between Assam and Meghalaya has been established. A permanent district committee comprising deputy commissioner of Nongpoh and deputy commissioner of Kamrup Metropolitan along with police officers of the corresponding level from both the state to ensure day to day issues arising along interstate border are resolved promptly,” he added.
“A joint committee comprising commissioner & secretary level transport authorities of both states along with the representatives of the tourist taxi associations will be constituted to facilitate and regulate tourist transport movement and safeguard the shared tourism interest of Assam and Meghalaya,” Sangma further stated.
The chief minister also informed that a meeting was chaired by deputy CM incharge transport with Meghalaya associations in which associations agreed to withdraw agitation which resulted in normalcy in the movement of vehicles and the next meeting along with the association will take place sometime in the second week of September to further discuss other matters.
“I would like to assure the members of this august house as well as the citizens of our state that the unfortunate incident that took place is something which govt has taken strong note of. We have been swift in the actions that have been taken by us and we want to ensure and assure the house and citizens of the state that government will take all steps and leave no stone unturned to ensure the miscreants who were involved and indulged in violent activities will be brought to justice,” he asserted.
