Shillong, Jun 2: The Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) has sought the intervention of Governor, Ganga Prasad for lifting of curfew and ensuring safety and security of Harijans in view of the prevailing law and order in the city.

In a memorandum, HPC headman Billu Singh said that the imposition of curfew on June 1, and the aftermath in the coming days, weeks and months, would cause great hardship to the Harijan people who are engaged in safai karamchari jobs throughout the city, in municipal offices, schools, colleges, hospitals and others.

According to him, unless the curfew is lifted, safety and security and livelihood of the safai karamcharis of the harijan will be jeopardized.

Singh alleged that on May 31, at around 9 am the Red bus plying in the area had hit one girl who was fetching water from the public tap. There were other women around waiting their turn to fill water. After the girl was hit, a hue and cry ensued, and enraged public, women beat up the handyman and the driver of the bus.

He said that the matter was compromised between the two parties after paying medical expenses by the women’s side at about 11 am at the Cantonment police beat house.

However, later at about 5 pm, about 300-400 handyman, drivers of red buses and hawkers of GS road assembled at Thangkhiew petrol pump attempting to assault the residents of harijan colony, he said.

The headman said that the police on patrolling duty intervened and police officers from Sadar Police station, Cantonment beat house and SP also arrived at the spur shortly. The police arrived and additional forces were deployed at Motphran area, there was serious hooliganism created by the mob which has led to the district magistrate to promulgate curfew in the areas in and around Motphran.

Despite curfew being imposed by the district administration, the city continued to remain tense.