TURA, July 31: Several Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from Meghalaya has given an urgent appeal to Conrad Sangma to halt the ongoing "manhunt" of protesters involved in the recent violence that erupted at the mini secretariat in Tura.
A protest, led by ACHIK and GSMC, turned violent and resulted in injuries to 18 security personnel. The coalition of NGOs, including FKJGP, ADE, AYWO, and TCGSU, has raised concerns over the actions taken by the administration following the incident, and they view it as an attempt to stifle dissent and suppress the voice of protesters.
The meeting was initially supposed to be hosted in the Circuit House, but later shifted to the Mini Secretariat. During the meeting, the agitators became aggressive, leading to violence, including stone pelting and damage to vehicles. The NGOs have questioned the rationale behind allowing the Chief Minister to proceed to the venue where agitating protesters were waiting, considering the possibility of escalation. They expressed concerns about the safety and security of the Chief Minister when such large gatherings of agitated individuals are allowed. The aftermath of the incident has seen arrests of protesters on charges of an alleged attempt to assassinate the Chief Minister. The NGOs have observed that the arrests have been made in an unprecedented manner. The district administration has also offered monetary rewards for information about the whereabouts of those who attended the meeting, further raising concerns about a potential witch-hunt and targeting of individuals associated with the agitation.
More than 46 individuals have been arrested, and authorities are actively searching for over 70 more persons. The NGOs have appealed to the government to cease further arrests and have requested the police department to not oppose bail for those arrested, urging a fair investigation process. Additionally, the incident has sparked discussions about the possibility of setting up a winter capital in the state of Meghalaya. The NGOs believe it is crucial to discuss and revisit this matter as stakeholders of the state to foster a sense of unity and progress.
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