Shillong, Aug 21: The three arrested leaders of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) are set to be shifted from Shillong to different jails in Garo Hills on Friday morning, amid heightened security following the violent incidents surrounding the organisation’s rally in Shillong.
According to sources, vice president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar. will be taken to Tura, while President Raymond Kharjana will be shifted to Williamnagar.
The three leaders were produced before the District and Sessions Court in Shillong on Thursday following their arrest in connection with the violence that erupted during the KSU rally. The court remanded all three to 14 days of judicial custody.
The leaders had been arrested on Wednesday evening following clashes and incidents of violence during the organisation’s bike rally in Shillong.
The KSU had organised the rally after holding a series of public meetings on August 17 and 18 and after its 15-day deadline to the Meghalaya Government over a five-point charter of demands expired.
The demands included action over the proposed public hearing for the Shree Cement project in East Jaintia Hills, reforms in recruitment through the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) and District Selection Committees (DSCs), implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), reforms in recruitment at NEIGRIHMS, and amendments to provisions concerning migrant workers.
The KSU had particularly demanded action against officials connected with the July 31 public hearing for the Shree Cement project and sought stronger implementation of MRSSA through entry-point checking centres.
The union had also demanded amendments to the Migrant Workmen-related law and changes to the recruitment process, including the removal of interviews for certain Grade B, C and D posts.
What began as a protest over the demands later descended into violence, with incidents of stone-pelting, attacks on vehicles and clashes reported at several locations.
Government vehicles, public property and vehicles from outside Meghalaya were among those targeted during the rally.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong had alleged that masked individuals participating in the rally appeared prepared for confrontation and accused them of attacking government and public vehicles as well as vehicles from Assam.
The State Government has maintained that it would take action against those responsible for the violence while also indicating that it would respond to directions issued by the Meghalaya High Court regarding the situation.
Following the deterioration of the law-and-order situation in East Khasi Hills, the Ministry of Home Affairs approved the deployment of additional central forces in Meghalaya.
Four companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and one company of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were sanctioned to assist the state police until August 25.
The deployment came after the State Home (Police) Department approached the Centre seeking additional security forces in view of the situation in Shillong.
The arrest and subsequent judicial proceedings against the three KSU leaders have added another dimension to the confrontation between the student organisation and the State Government.
The KSU has maintained its position on its demands, while the government has focused on restoring law and order and holding those responsible for the violence accountable.
Police said 15 FIRs have been registered so far. The violence left 31 vehicles vandalised, 16 people injured and two vehicles torched. A manhunt is underway to identify and arrest other accused involved.
 are set to be shifted from Shillong to different jails in Garo Hills on Friday morning, amid heightened security following the violent incidents surrounding the organisation’s rally in Shillong.){kind=link}