Protesters burn effigies of Meghalaya CM, 5 others over killing of ex-HNLC leader

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 25, 2021

Effigies of the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and five others were burnt by residents under the banner of the ‘Voice of Mawlai People’ as a mark of protest against the alleged gunning down of former HNLC leader Cheristerfield Thangkhiew on August 13.

The other effigies burnt were that of Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Director General of Police (DGP) R Chandranathan, Superintendent of Police (SP) of East Jaintia Hills (EJH) and Superintendent of Police (SP) Traffic of East Khasi Hills (EKH).

The protest was held at Mawlai petrol pump.

Samuel Biam while delivering his speech said that the demand of Sur ki Nong Mawlai stands that the government should immediately suspend those involved in the killing of Cheristerfield Thangkhiew and should also speed up the judicial inquiry on the matter.

“‘We as the Voice of Mawlai People’ stand firm with the demand to suspend all those involved in the killing of Cheristerfield and if the government does not comply with our demand will continue with our agitation” said Biam. 

Biam added that the people of Mawlai want to maintain peace and harmony in the locality and in the state as a whole but it was the Police who have broken the laws in the wee hour of 13 August by killing Thangkhiew in front of his family hence the people of Mawlai will be never part of the peace committee until the government suspend those involved in the killing of Thangkhiew.

Meanwhile Donbok Kharlyngdoh informed that there will be a signature campaign and candle light vigil on the 27 August starting from Mawlai Stand Bus to Mawlai Petrol Pump as a protest to the adamant attitude of the government and if the government continues to pay deaf ear on their demand the public will compel to hold public rally till secretariat in the days to come.

“Since the Police are scared of knives, in the future we will hold mass public rally till secretariat to surrender our knives to the chief minister and home minister because we do not want to see another encounter by the police because of someone holding a knife in their houses” said Kharlyngdoh.

Kharlyngdoh informed that the people from different parts of the district have seen the unity of the people of Mawlai when it comes to police brutality and various rallies will be organized in all the districts of the state starting from South West Khasi Hills on 26 this month. He added that this unity of the public against the adamant attitude of the government will surely crumble the pillars of the Meghalaya secretariat hence it is the duty of the government to listen to the demand of the public for the interest of the state as a whole.