Shillong, June 4: After a delegation of Shiromani Akali Dal from Delhi, the Punjab government also sent a team to Shillong in view of the law and order situation, and met chief minister, Conrad K. Sangma in the Secretariat on Monday.
Punjab minister for cooperation, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa told reporters that the chief minister has assured that the state government has taken all possible measures to ensure security of citizens in the state.
“We would like to see peace and harmony that has been there in Meghalaya, is not disturbed. We want peace and solution to any problem and we wanted to have cooperation between both the state governments,†he said.
He also said that the situation is not a communal problem, adding that the demand to relocate the Sikh people from Them ïew Mawlong (Sweepers lane), is a local issue.
“Meghalaya government would take a decision in the best interest of both sides,†Randhawa said.
A four-member delegation which comprised of SAD MLA from Delhi, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, representative of the Delhi Gurudwara Committee, Manjit Singh GK and other members visited the city on Sunday and met the chief minister as well as Sikh community people.
Meanwhile, the Army carried out a second flag march in the city on Monday in view of the law and order situation which saw stone pelters clashing with security force.
A statement issued by the defence public relation officer here said, “As an aid to civil authorities, on the requisition of State administration, the Army carried out flag march at 4.30 pm in disturbed and other areas of Shillong city. Two columns of fully armed troops in vehicles were deployed in the flag march, to help bring the situation under control.â€
The march was taken out under the command and control of 101 Area general-officer-commanding, Lt Gen D.S. Ahuja.
The problem started after an exchange of words between a bus driver and some ladies residing at Them ïew Mawlong thereby resulting in the assault of the driver and two other persons by some men in the area on May 31 morning. This led to the volatile situation where a mob clashed with security forces on May 31 night.
Police have arrested the main accused, B. Misa on June 1, and he is now under custody. The case is being charge sheeted.
​Curfew was imposed in the whole of Shillong from 4 pm on Monday to 5 am on Tuesday to bring down the situation under control since there was continuous clash between agitators who pelted stones at security ​personnel while security personnel threw teargas shells at the mob to disperse. The situation in curfew areas especially Motphran and Mawkhar has improved as most of the protesters have left the place on Monday night.