The Meghalaya government, facing flak over the violence that took place during Friday’s rally in Shillong protesting unemployment, on Monday decided to “overhaul” the standard operating procedure (SOP) for holding rallies and meetings to prevent a repeat.
Chief minister Conrad Sangma tweeted after the review meeting on Monday, “Held a meeting with @DC_EKHand @MeghalayaPolice to review the law & order situation.”
Shillong is the district headquarters of East Khasi Hills and state capital besides being one of the key tourist destinations of the Northeast.
Though no detail was shared by Sangma about the review held in Shillong, a senior police official told The Telegraph that lot of issues were discussed at the meeting, including the overhauling of the SOPs related to rallies and meetings.
“Lot of overhauling of the SOP is being done, lot of things were reviewed like how to handle law and order on such a scale, what are the conditions to be applied and reviewed for rallies, processions and venues,” the official said.
The National People’s Party (NPP) heads the multi-party coalition government in Meghalaya in which the BJP is a minor partner.
The influential Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) had on Friday held a march in Shillong protesting unemployment in Meghalaya and seeking a government policy stipulating job reservation in the private sector for indigenous youth.
However, the rally witnessed stray incidents of assault on innocent passers-by along the route, raising question about the security arrangements and sparking concerns over the hit the tourist destination the state could take because of the violence that left two injured.
The police official further said three suo motu cases have been registered in connection with the violence.
“One person was arrested on charges of intimidation after the procession ended but released on bail. We have also sent a notice to the FKJGP on Monday asking their leaders to appear before us in connection with our ongoing probe,” he said.
A senior FKJGP leader said that two of their leaders have been summoned on Tuesday morning and they will cooperate with the probe.
The Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF), an organisation working for the development of tourism in the state since 2003, in a statement on Sunday has urged the state government to take “immediate action and apprehend the perpetrators” of Friday’s violence.
“Confidence in the law and order machinery needs to be restored and the public need to be given reassurance that such blatant acts of public defiance against the order of law and civility will not go unpunished. We also request the FKJGP to help identify the members who committed the acts of violence against the innocent people,” the MTDF statement said.
The FKJGP has apologised for the violence but said they don’t know who all were involved.
Formed in 1989, the FKJGP is an influential pressure group that represents the state’s three leading communities (Khasi, Garos and Jaintias) and works for a socioeconomic and political reformation in the state.
The MTDF further added: “We urge upon all those organisations and individuals with a deep sense of commitment to whatever cause that they believe in to directly engage in the upcoming electoral process. Issues concerning our state need to be addressed through electoral debates and finally in the Assembly rather than in streets, thoroughfares and market places. The time for change has come, and change we must ourselves first.”
Meghalaya goes to the polls early next year.
