Shillong, Jun 12: A group of protesters under the banner of “the voice of the people” asked the state government to ensure unconditional release of all 68 youth who were arrested during the five-day violent protest in the state capital.

On June 5, the protesters met chief minister, Conrad K Sangma entering forcefully the premises of the main secretariat.

They claimed that the ministers of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government who visited Mawkhar area on the night of June 5, had assured that the government will look into their demands which include unconditional release of the arrested youth.

Banraplang Hynniewta said the state government should keep its promise made to release all the youth unconditionally.

He said there are 68 youth who are mostly students have been arrested and are still in jail while also alleging most of them were also only passing through Mawkhar area and were not involved in the protest.

Hynniewta further recalled that the sports minister Banteidor Lyngdoh, state planning board chairman Lambor Malngiang and North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum had also assured during their visit to Motphran that the government will ensure unconditional release of all arrested youth.

“We will again meet the chief minister and home minister to remind about the promise made to the delegation in the main secretariat on June 5,” he said.

Meanwhile the aggrieved parents and family members of the arrested youth also urged the government to release all of them.

M Nongsiej said that her husband Skhemborlang Marwein was arrested by police on Friday last near Synod complex and is still in jail till date while denying her husband’s involvement in the violent protest by throwing stones at police.

“My son Kitboklang Marbaninag got arrested on June 4 from Mawprem and is still in jail,” said B Marbaniang an aggrieved mother.