10 HNYF members arrested for checking tourists at Umtngar, Tynsong terms incident unfortunate

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 26, 2024

As many as 10 activists of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) were arrested after they were checking and stopping vehicles ferrying tourists to Sohra and Dawki at Umtngar on Friday.

According to the East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtnger, the ten were arrested and a case has been registered against them.

HNYF president Sadon K Blah said the checking was conducted to send a clear message to the state government for immediately setting up of entry-exit points as mandated by the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, which clearly stated that “even tourists have to produce verification that they are visiting the state as tourists.”

He said but the government’s failure to set up entry-exit points have prompted the HNYF members to take such action. “Yes, we admit it affects the tourists but we are not targeting the tourists but we want the government to implement the MRSSA, which clearly states that tourists are subjected for verification while entering the state of Meghalaya,” he added.

Terming the incident as unfortunate, deputy chief minister incharge home (police) Prestone Tynsong said, “It is very unfortunate that incident happened today and we were not aware and we never expected that few group of people will just do like that (checking tourists visiting Sohra and Dawki).”

He also assured, “Let me tell you very bluntly that the law has taken its own course. We will not allow such things to happen again.”

“Let me be very clear about any issue you have. We are there to discuss, the door is open, sit down , discuss and then come to a solution. That is very important. Be it anybody in the government, I think that is the principle of democracy, where we need to discuss, sit down across the table and thereafter resolve the issues but not the behaviour done by few young boys like they did today in Umtngar, I think that is totally wrong,” Tynsong said.

Asked, Tynsong said, “We did not know it means we never expected those kinds of unpleasant checks done by a group of people in the name of tourists and you don’t have to come this side and better  you go back. Therefore, my point is very clear: nobody can cross the limit, let the law take its own course of action and let me tell you repeatedly I would like to say please anybody don’t take the law into your own hands. If you have issues, the secretariat is open, we can sit across the table and come up with a positive note.”

On the petrol bomb attack at a house at Jhalupara, Tynsong said that no arrest has been yet but police are on the job to identify and find out and nab the culprits behind the incident.