Two days night road blockade in Ri Bhoi

NONGPOH, FEB 25: The Khasi Students Union (KSU) North Khasi hills unit has announced two days night road blockade on March 2 and 3 from 7pm to 5 am in Ri Bhoi district to protest against nonchalant attitude of the Congress led government of Mukul Sangma in resolving the border disputes with Assam.

The two days night road blockade was announced during a media conference in the KSU office in Mawdiangum on Wednesday evening. KSU NKHD president Ferdynald Kharkamni said the road blockade has been called because the state government failed to respond to their demands submitted in memorandums the government.

The road blockade will affect National Highway 40, which is the artery of the Shillong-Guwahati road.

Kharkamni appealed to the public to support the night road blockade and also to desist from confrontation that might result on unwanted incidents. He said, “ We are compelled to agitate for genuine reasons.”

Kharkamni said the union is irked by the attacks on four of its members at Sabuda on Sunday night by Assam police where they were treated like terrorists. He expressed the union intolerance to what he said the “draconian act” of the Assam police who were posted to provide protection and security to the people from unwanted elements >

Kharkamni alleged that the Assam police posted in the border outpost instead have proved to he a threat to the Khasi people in the disputed areas.

Kharkamni also said the union is concerned over the extortion carried out to villagers in Umthlih village under the Block-II by KPLT militants. He lamented that the Meghalaya government has failed to address this issue too.

Kharkamni also pointed out the the government’s failure to remove electric poles erected by ASEB in Hima Nongspung areas falling under Jirang constituency.

The union is also demanding setting up of police outpost in Balakhawa, Madan Umwang and Umlaper.  Free registrations of lands for the residents living in border areas, plying of SPTS buses in Raid Nongtung from Thadrang via Shillong, Umlaper via Shillong, Madan Umwang via Shillong are the other demands of the union.- From Our Correspondent