GUWAHATI:
An Assam MLA on October 31 demanded the Shillong violence, which took place on Friday during a rally of the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) to highlight unemployment in the state, be investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Videos of the incident, which social media described as “xenophobic”, showed some protesters going berserk and thrashing those who came in their way, even bystanders.
Two days after the incident, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Assam’s No 2 Patharkandi constituency, Krishnendu Paul, urged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to take up the case with his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma to order an NIA probe into it.
When asked why he has to write to the CM even if the incident took place in a neighbouring state, Paul said, “Himanta Biswa Sarma is also convenor of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). So he can take up the issue with Meghalaya CM.”
“The incident is politically motivated. There is a tendency among the tribal groups of the North East to attack non-tribals. Earlier also, such incidents have occurred in Meghalaya. Similar incidents were also reported in Nagaland and Mizoram. I have doubts that there is a political hand behind it. I want to put an end to this tradition. We should unitedly stand as Indians. At the same time, the culprits should be punished and the source of such incidents should be identified,” he added.
In his letter to the chief minister, Paul said, “I am pointed to know and express the deepest concern on the recent incident of violence in Shillong where several innocent people (people belonging to the non-tribal fraternity) were assaulted during a rally against unemployment organised by the FKJGP. Besides vehicles and properties were vandalised and even media persons were reportedly assaulted as well.”
“The recent incident of attack on innocent non-tribal people is not a sudden unfortunate incident, but a continuation of a series of unfortunate incidents, contributed by different organisations from time to time. This incident has once again scratched the unfortunate history of incidents of conflict of the yesteryears in Meghalaya.
“In this backdrop with deep pain and concern, I would like to mention that many non-tribal people including Assamese, Bengalis, Marwaris and Biharis are in Meghalaya to work and earn their livelihood but they are living in great jeopardy. Under this circumstance, I am writing to you with an earnest plea to intervene in the matter of grave concern and take some steps so that such lawlessness and mayhem can be addressed and fixed and an environment of peace and brethren feeling for the larger interest could be restored at the earliest in Meghalaya,” he added.