Shillong, Aug 20 (PTI) The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday directed the authorities to take prompt and effective steps to apprehend those involved in the violence during a bike rally taken out by an influential student organisation in Shillong a day ago.
The high court also sought a report on the action taken by August 24.
The direction came after the court took suo motu cognisance of the incidents of violence during the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) rally, which resulted in damage to government, police and commercial vehicles and allegedly put the lives and safety of residents, including schoolchildren, at risk.
A division bench comprising Justice H S Thangkhiew and Justice W Diengdoh described the incidents as a matter of serious concern while hearing the suo motu proceedings.
The advocate general apprised the court of the steps taken by the authorities in connection with the violence and informed it that some members of the organisation had been arrested.
The court directed the state government to submit a report detailing the steps taken by the authorities by August 24, when the matter will be taken up for further hearing.
The KSU bike rally on August 19 had turned violent, with stone-pelting, vandalism and assaults reported from several parts of Shillong. At least 31 vehicles were damaged, 16 people injured and two vehicles set ablaze, according to East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem.
Three senior KSU leaders — president Raymond Kharjana, vice president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar — were arrested and subsequently remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody.
The court’s intervention comes amid heightened security in Shillong and along the Meghalaya-Assam border following the violence and its subsequent fallout. PTI JOP NN
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