Shillong, Aug 20 (IANS) The East Khasi Hills district administration has decided to invoke the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (MMPO) Act to recover the cost of damage to public and private property during a Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) black‑flag bike rally that turned violent in Shillong, officials said.
Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal said on Thursday that the rally had violated the conditions under which permission was granted and subsequently became an unlawful assembly.
“The rally conditions have been violated… the permission stands revoked. So it becomes an unlawful assembly,” Baranwal said, adding that an FIR had been registered and investigation was underway.
The administration is examining incidents of arson, vandalism and assault and working to identify those responsible. Three senior KSU leaders, president Raymond Kharjana, vice‑president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar, have already been arrested.
Giving details of the damage, Baranwal said 16 cases of assault had been reported, while two statues of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda were vandalised. Two vehicles, including a government vehicle and another registered outside the state, were also set on fire. Several private vehicles were damaged.
Under the MMPO Act, the administration intends to impose financial sanctions on individuals or organisations held responsible for damage caused during a procession or rally. The administration has also revoked permission granted to the KSU for its proposed protest on Friday, citing the violence during Wednesday’s rally.
Baranwal said the authorities had been assured that the bike rally would remain peaceful and that there would be no repeat of earlier incidents. However, the reported vandalism, arson and assaults prompted the administration to withdraw permission for the next protest.
Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered over an alleged petrol bomb attack on police personnel during a raid at the KSU office in Jaiaw on Wednesday night. Baranwal said police had gone to the office following the arrests of the three KSU leaders to identify and apprehend those allegedly involved in the violence.
He claimed a petrol bomb was hurled at the police team when it approached the office.
He said police used a stun grenade and tear gas only to disperse a crowd allegedly attempting to attack security personnel.
The administration said medical assistance has been provided to injured persons at Civil Hospital and that helpline numbers would be issued for stranded tourists.
On the possibility of imposing a curfew, Baranwal said it would be considered only as a “last resort”, while coordination with Assam authorities is underway over reports of Meghalaya‑bound vehicles being stopped near Jorabat.
–IANS
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