48-hr deadline ends, pressure groups to meet

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, May 10: The conglomeration of NGOs demanding the unconditiol release of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) president and the dropping of cases filed against them during their agitation demanding ILP in 2013 will meet on Monday after the 48 hour deadline given to the government ended on Saturday evening.

“We have not received any communication from the government with regards to our demands. We will meet tomorrow to decided our future course of action,” Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) president, Joe Marweiñ said on Sunday.

Recently, the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma when has also maintained that the action of the government will always be guided by ‘legal-perspective’.

Even police have hinted arrest of more leaders of pressure groups for the varied pending crimil cases under the MMPO.

Around 87 cases were registered and charge sheets were filed in 82 cases in the court dealing with the MMPO cases. As many as 80 members of various pressure groups were arrested in connection with the cases, but all of them have secured bail.

The government had also filed a civil case of damage suit during the ILP agitation of over Rs 31 crore which is pending before the special court.

It may be noted, the KSU president was arrested on May 7 after he refused to accept the bailable warrant of arrest.

Police has registered at least seven cases under Meghalaya Maintence of Public Order (MMPO) Act against Khyriem.

Since the arrest of the KSU leader a number of arson cases have been reported from different parts of Shillong and other districts of Khasi – Jaintia Hills region.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in Shillong with security forces seen frisking vehicles in various parts of the city.