SHILLONG, AUG 20: The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved immediate deployment of central forces in Meghalaya after the law and order situation deteriorated in East Khasi Hills following violent protests in Shillong.
In a letter, the MHA said it will provide four companies of CRPF and one company of Rapid Action Force (RAF) till August 25 to assist the state police.
The move came after the state Home (Police) department wrote to the Centre citing a “sudden deterioration” of the situation in the district, hours after the Khasi Students’ Union’s black-flag bike rally turned violent.
On Wednesday, the rally witnessed large-scale vandalism including stone pelting, damage to 31 vehicles, burning of a government vehicle, and assault on pedestrians in areas like Firebrigade, Nongmensong, Polo, Barik and Mawlai.
Acting on the incidents, Meghalaya Police on Wednesday night arrested KSU president Raymond Kharjana, vice president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar.
Police said they have been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 for damage to public property, assault and other offences. They were lodged at Sadar Police Station.
The arrests came hours after the KSU leadership held a press conference expressing regret over the violence and claiming that miscreants had infiltrated the rally to sabotage their agitation.
Police also raided the KSU office in Jaiaw later that night, during which tear gas was fired.
