Shillong, May 29: The influential student body, Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has demanded the immediate release of its leaders and members, who were arrested following last week protest against the construction of railway line in Ri Bhoi.
The union central leadership also reiterated its demand for the state government to ensure ongoing construction of the project is put to a stop, till such time that effective laws are in place to check influx into the state.
Addressing newsmen here, KSU president Lambokstar Marngar said, “We demand the government to immediately release our members if it wants to ensure that peace and tranquility in the state is not disturbed.”
He also termed the arrest as nothing but an act of provocation.
At least five KSU activists including North Khasi Hills District president Ferdynald Kharkamni and central body assistant secretary Son Nongkhlaw were arrested by the police.
Reiterating the union’s demand on the railway project, Marngar said, “It is only when the government is ready to implement effective laws, then we will talk abour railway project and whether we will accept.”
Condemning the lathi charge incident, he said that the Ri Bhoi DC and SP has to take responsibility if anything bad happens to the members and general public, who were injured to such actions of the police.
He also said that the KSU leaders on Saturday were in fact invited for talks but instead they were beaten up and arrested, which is quite unacceptable.
Meanwhile, the KSU has also challenged the RI Bhoi DC CP Gotmare to prove that the KHADC had issued the no-objection certificate (NOC) for paving way for the construction of the railway line in Ronghona under Byrnihat police outpost.
