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Meghalaya : Ban on agitations ? |
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The Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government is toying with the idea of clamping a ban on all public meetings and agitations. The recent spurt in agitations has prompted the MDA to contemplate ‘serious action’ to prevent organisations from holding agitations and public meetings.
The MDA has in the past used the Meghalaya Essential Services Maintenance Act, (MESMA) 2003 to prevent agitations, especially bandhs and picketing. Two months ago, it was on the verge of using MESA to prevent doctors from going on an indefinite strike.
MBSE dispute leads to violence
The lingering dispute over how the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBSE) should be revamped led to another bout of violence during a rally organised by 20 organisations at Jaiaw to mobilise opinion on the issue.
The rally was meant to be a show of support to the Khasi Students Union (KSU)’s campaign for the appointment of a full-fledged chairperson of the board and secretaries in Shillong and Tura. Trouble started when the security personnel keeping a watch on the proceedings tried to prevent some youth leaders from entering the venue.
A section of the 30,000-strong gathering retaliated immediately, pelting the security personnel with stones and broken bottles. Two policemen were injured and a police jeep was damaged.
The police resorted to a lathicharge and burst teargas shells to disperse the mob, which showed no sign of retreating. As agitated youth continued to challenge the security personnel, members of the Seng Longkmie (mothers’ union) stepped in to calm them. The elderly ladies requested the police personnel and the two magistrates present there to leave, contending that their presence was adding to the tension.
The security personnel agreed to withdraw from the venue after nearly two hours. But apprehending more arson, police and paramilitary personnel almost immediately ringed Chief Minister D.D. Lapang’s residence in the vicinity of the playground where the rally was held. The East Khasi Hills district administration subsequently clamped a ban on meetings and gatherings in the district till further intimation.
Deputy commissioner D.P. Wahlang said later that security had been beefed up across the district and the situation brought under control.
The district administration has reportedly ordered the arrest of several top KSU leaders, including president Samuel Jyrwa and general secretary Hamlet Dohling.
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