Shillong, August 21: Kutumba Surakshya Parishad (KSP) president Satya Ranjan Borah has strongly condemned the alleged assaults and vandalism targeting vehicles, particularly those bearing Assam registration numbers, during the black-flag motorcycle rally organised by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in Shillong.
Borah described the violence during the rally as “horrific” and controversially compared it to the Pahalgam attack. He demanded that the KSU be declared an unlawful organisation, stating that the KSP had submitted a written representation to the Union Home Ministry in this regard.
He said that although the KSU is a students’ organisation, it has no authority to take the law into its own hands or interfere with the constitutional rights of other citizens. Every Indian citizen, he maintained, has the right to travel, work and conduct lawful business in any part of the country.
According to reports following the incident, 31 vehicles were damaged, including several bearing Assam registration numbers. Sixteen cases relating to alleged assaults were registered, while a government vehicle was also set ablaze.
Borah criticised the Meghalaya Government for allegedly failing to put adequate security measures in place despite having prior knowledge of the rally. He demanded that all those involved be identified through video footage and other available evidence and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He further demanded that Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma issue a public apology to the people of Assam over the alleged attacks on commuters and damage caused to Assam-registered vehicles.
Following the incident, interstate travel between Assam and Meghalaya was disrupted after groups of commercial drivers in Assam stopped Meghalaya vehicles at Khanapara and Jorabat. Several passengers were reportedly forced to change vehicles, causing considerable inconvenience.
Borah, however, appealed to the people of Assam not to retaliate against innocent residents of Meghalaya. He said ordinary commuters should not be punished for the actions of those allegedly responsible for the violence in Shillong.
He urged the Assam and Meghalaya governments to work together to restore normal vehicular movement and ensure the safety of travellers between the two states. Borah also demanded adequate compensation for vehicle owners and other victims affected by the incident.
