Shillong: A black-flag bike rally organised by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), as part of its ongoing agitation over a five-point charter of demands to the state govt, turned violent on Wednesday, with reports of assaults on passersby and govt vehicles being set on fire at different locations.Also, a bust of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and a glass case containing a statue of Swami Vivekananda at RR Colony were reportedly vandalised.The rally followed public meetings held by the KSU across Shillong on Monday and Tuesday, after the union issued the govt a 15-day deadline to act on its demands.In its five-point charter, the KSU has alleged that the public hearing for Shree Cement, held in East Jaintia Hills on July 31, was pre-arranged. It has sought action against police officers and Meghalaya Pollution Control Board officials in connection with the hearing.The union has also demanded full implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016, until an Inner Line Permit system is introduced in the state.Its charter further calls for immediate implementation of the amended Meghalaya Migrant Workmen Act, 2020; recruitment reforms at NEIGRIHMS, including an 80:20 female-to-male ratio for nurses and reservation for Khasis, Jaintias and Garos; removal of interviews for Grade B, C and D posts; and standard operating procedures for all recruitment boards.
