SHILLONG, MAY 4: As many as 16 persons belonging to Kukis and Meiteis were apprehended after they were indulging in a group fight in the city on Thursday evening.
East Khasi Hills superintendent of police Sylvester Nongtnger informed that following the violence in Manipur between Kukis and Meiteis, a spillover was seen today in Shillong when at about 5.30 pm Laitumkhrah police station received information of a group fight at Nongrim Hills near Mizo Morden School.
Police rushed to the area and found two persons of one community manhandled by another community.
“To prevent the situation from getting aggravated, EKH Police has apprehended and bound down 16 persons under Section 107 CrPC of both the communities for formenting trouble,” Nongtnger said.
Meanwhile, the SP said stringent measures will be taken on those wanting to vitiate the peace in the city
SHILLONG, MAY 4: The Khasi Jaintia Church Leaders’ Forum (KJCLF) on Thursday condemned the perpetrators of violence on members of tribal and Christian communities as well as destruction of places of worship in Manipur and conveyed its condolences to the families of all those who have lost their lives in the wake of all this rampage.
“The Forum stands in solidarity with those who have been affected by this and who have been evacuated from their dwellings and given shelter in paramilitary camps, and exhorts them to remain strong, vigilant and united together,” KJCLF secretary Rev Dr Edwin H Kharkongor said in a statement issued here.
He said a day after about 24 churches have been desecrated, ransacked or burnt down, we hear reports of many more churches bearing the brunt of this sacrilegious and inhuman onslaught of hatred against Christians in the region, specifically at the moment in Manipur. While the majority of the victims are Christians who are indigenous to the land and who are presently living in fear of the night, now we hear that even Meitei Christians and their churches as well as other places of worship have been targeted.
He said that the Forum also appealed to the ruling dispensation in both the State of Manipur and the Centre to expeditiously bring an end to this lawlessness and initiate other means to resolve issues which affect the very existence of fellow citizens irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
“It also implores upon the Chief Minister of Meghalaya to intercede with his counterpart in Manipur to protect the lives and properties of the tribals and Christians in the State including their places of worship,” Rev Kharkongor said.
Meanwhile, the KJCLF called on all Christians and leaders of different Churches in the region to join in prayer and come together to address these issues which affect the welfare of the people and communities in many ways.
SHILLONG, MAY 4: Meghalaya government on Thursday decided to make arrangements for evacuating more than 200 students from the state, who are studying in Manipur, following the violent incidents.
After chairing an emergent meeting held with senior government officials, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that the government is monitoring the situation in Manipur very closely.
“We are in touch with the students of the different institutes and we are also making arrangements as a state government to try and evacuate our students from there so that they can come back safely,” he said.
According to him, arrangements in terms of transportation, especially air transportation, are being made to quickly bring back students from Meghalaya, who are studying in Manipur.
Close to 200 students from Meghalaya are studying in Imphal.
Stating that the government is also creating a helpline number, the chief minister said, “Students and parents can call on a 24 hour basis if they require any help or if any urgent matter is there.”
We have activated the HELPLINE 1800-345-3644 for students staying in #Manipur and for parents in case of emergencies.
Urging the parents and students not to panic but to stay calm, Sangma said, “We are monitoring the situation continuously and we are in touch with the Manipur government continuously and we are taking all steps possible to immediately ensure that we are able to as quickly as possible evacuate and bring our students back to Meghalaya and as the situation gets under control then we can decide on the further course of action.”
Meanwhile, the chief minister urged all citizens of the state of Manipur to maintain peace and harmony and refrain from violent activities and said, “I would like to appeal for peace and I would like to urge that whatever the complications may be there, we should try and resolve those matters in an amicable manner.”
“I also would like to appeal that we should not do anything to hurt any religious sentiments that have different attacks on different religious institutions and different religious places – these are not very healthy for our society and this will only complicate matters more and hence I urge that we should refrain from any such activity and would like to appeal to all our friends, brothers and sisters in Manipur that we should try and ensure that peace prevails and all different situations and complications are resolved in an amicable manner,” he added.
