Shillong Dec 13: Protesters close to one lakh marched towards the Raj Bhavan against the CAB and to demand from the Centre to implement ILP in the state while also asking the governor, Tathagata Roy to approve immediately an ordinance that seeks mandatory registrations of people who visit Meghalaya.

The march started from Motphran after the district administration relaxed the curfew for few hours in Shillong city.

However the situation turn worst as unruly crowds tried to forcefully enter the Raj Bhavan which compelled security personnel to fire tear gas shells.

All the way from Motphran the crowd shouted slogans against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, and demanded from the Centre to implement the Inner Line Permit in the state as has been extended to Manipur and asked the Governor to give his assent to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019.

The security personnel escorting the crowd did not disturb them and exercised maximum restrain even at the venue infront of the Raj Bhavan when the crowd was gathering.

The mob forcefully moved to the gate of the Raj Bhavan after listening to speeches of several speakers especially when CoMSO chairman, Robertjune Kharjahrin announced that there would be a sit-in demonstration in the same venue if the governor delayed to give his assent to the ordinance.

Seeing the worst situation as the mob tried to force themselves into the Raj Bhavan, it compelled security personnel to fire tear gas shells in attempt to disperse the protesters.

As tear gas shells were fired, mob run in panic even as some boys threw stones that hit the men and women among the crowds.

Many persons also injured as they hit each other while running in panic.

Several crowds were injured in the melee, and around four police personnel were also injured.

The injured were taken to Shillong civil hospital and other hospitals. Unconfirmed sources said that around 63 civilians were injured including 23 women.

While 10 of them admitted in hospital, 5 sustained serious injuries.

A vehicle parked inside the youth hostel was set ablaze, and windshield of a fire tender of the Meghalaya police was totally smashed by the unruly crowd.

Despite the crowd provoking the security personnel, they exercised maximum restraint even at the venue infront of the Raj Bhavan.

However the presence of small number of security personnel also led to the crowd taking advantage of the situation as the security could not tackle them.