SHILLONG: In a major breach of security, over 100 protesters, most of whom were masked, entered the premises of the Main Secretariat on Monday after breaking the lock of the entrance gate and shouted slogans.
The intrusion by hawkers was unexpected as there was only one security guard at the gate. According to him, the protesters came around 4pm and started pulling the gate, which had one lock and was not chained. The lock gave in and the protesters then entered the premises and shouted slogans.
It was not before 10 minutes that the police force came and dispersed the protesters who then stood on the road.
However, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma downplayed the incident saying the group did not have any wrong intention and wanted to discuss “genuine issues related to the current turmoil” with him.
He told reporters that the protesters were worried about the problems faced by the poor and urged the chief minister to find a solution fast.
“It is a situation that we also did not expect this kind. But they were not here with any kind of mal-intention. They were concerned about the issue and they mentioned about the economic hardship that the people are facing,” Sangma said but added that they should have been careful as curfew was on.
“They were allowed to come inside and as soon as we got information that they are coming here, we sent the police personnel to ensure that they went and met the chief secretary and they requested to meet CM,” he said.
‘Voice of the people’
Claiming that they do not belong to any organisation, the protesters called themselves “the voice of the people” and demanded that the faces of those arrested for assaulting the three local boys be shown to them, release of the Khasi youth arrested during protests and shifting the residents from Punjabi Lane (Them Iew Mawlong).
At the same time, stating that daily wage earners, school students and vendors are affected, the group appealed to the public agitating at Motphran to stop.
A man from the group asserted that stone pelting is continuing as people are agitated that only the Khasi youth are getting arrested.
Rally
With the intention to meet the chief minister, the group gathered at Students’ Field and took out a rally to the Secretariat.
The delegation who met the chief minister addressed the gathering outside the Secretariat that the government will constitute a committee and call upon the Syiem of Hima Mylliem along with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to check the documents with regard to Punjabi Lane.
“If it is not fulfilled, we will take to the streets and hold a public meeting and demand from the government and at that time we will not listen to the lies of the government,” a male member said.
