Government discusses situation with headmen

A Correspondent

Shillong, June 2: The state government on Saturday afternoon held a meeting with headmen of various localities affected by prevailing law and order situation in Motphran and adjoining areas.

The meeting was also attended by local Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) legislator, Adelbert Nongrum.

The meeting was attended amongst others by Chief Minister, Conrad Kongkal Sangma, Home Minister, James K Sangma, Health Minister AL Hek, Tourism Minister Metbah Lyngdoh, Sports Minister BanteidorLyngdoh.

The headmen of Mawkhar, Jaiaw, Wahingdoh, Umsohsun, Riatsamthiah, JaiawPdeng, Mission Compound were also accompanied by the senior citizens women organisations and youth.

According to a government statement the meeting was a fruitful one since both the Government and the delegation shared common concern about the ongoing law and order situation in the city.

The headmen spoke at length regarding the hardships faced by the local and genuine residents of the area and requested the government to immediately withdraw the police force from entering the localities and firing tear gas inside people’s compound or houses.

The Home Minister informed them that the police force had till now exercised maximum restraint and would continue to do so.

The Home Minister also informed the delegation that as per the demands made by the agitators, one person directly involved in the assault had already been arrested on Friday afternoon and that he was currently under Police custody for further investigations.

During the meeting a lot of other issues were brought up during the course of the meeting where few other Headmen raised the issue of Curfew timings and that proper announcement should be made so that the public are given proper awareness.

The delegation also sought for the removal and rehabilitation of the inhabitants of the Sweeper Lane.

The Chief Minister informed the delegation that he had already sought for reports from all the concerned Departments namely the Urban Affairs and Revenue Department about the present status of the case regarding rehabilitation. After going through the reports, the Government would take necessary steps.

The Headmen of the above localities assured the Government that they will extend full cooperation to bring back normalcy in the area.

In fact, the delegation assured the Government that right after the meeting they would go and talk to these agitators about the successful outcome of the present meeting and that there was no need to agitate since most of the demands made by various organisationsand agitators had already been met.