Shillong Bike Rally Turns Violent: 31 Vehicles Damaged, Statues Vandalised; 3 KSU Leaders Arrested
Shillong : A protest rally organised by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in Shillong took a violent turn on Wednesday, with incidents of stone-pelting, alleged assaults, arson and vandalism reported across parts of the city. Police said at least 31 vehicles were damaged during the unrest, while statues associated with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda were also vandalised.
Following the violence, three senior KSU leaders, including union president Raymond Kharjana, were arrested. KSU vice president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar were also taken into custody and brought to the Sadar police station.
The arrests came after a black-flag bike rally organised by the KSU as part of its protest over a five-point charter of demands. The organisation has been raising issues concerning indigenous rights, employment opportunities, regulations for migrant workers and the proposed Shree Cement project, among other matters.
Protest begins peacefully but situation worsens
The bike rally was held across Shillong on Wednesday, with participants carrying black flags as a mark of protest. Many shops in the city remained closed during the agitation.
The situation, however, reportedly became tense when some participants allegedly began attacking vehicles and members of the public. Stone-pelting was also reported, and several vehicles and public properties were damaged.
According to police, a total of 31 vehicles were damaged during the violence. Vehicles carrying Assam registration numbers were reportedly among those targeted. Some government vehicles were also allegedly set on fire.
The incidents have raised concerns about the safety of residents and commuters as the protest escalated in different parts of Shillong.
Netaji and Vivekananda statues vandalised
The violence also extended to public memorials.
In R&R Colony, the bust of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose outside the R&R Colony Welfare Society office was reportedly removed from its position, thrown down and damaged.
At Vivekananda Park, the glass enclosure surrounding a statue of Swami Vivekananda was allegedly damaged after a stone was thrown at it.
The vandalism of the statues added another dimension to the unrest and drew attention to the damage caused to public property during the protest.
Tension had been building
The latest violence followed incidents reported on Tuesday night, when tyres were allegedly set on fire at two locations in Shillong.
The KSU has maintained its opposition to several issues included in its charter and has warned of intensifying its agitation if its demands are not addressed.
The organisation’s latest rally was intended to highlight those concerns, but the reported violence overshadowed the protest’s stated objectives.
Three KSU leaders arrested
Police sources said Raymond Kharjana, Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and Reuben Najiar were booked under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The cases relate to allegations involving damage to public property, assaults on civilians and other offences connected with the violence during the rally.
A KSU leader confirmed the arrests through the union’s official media group, stating that the three leaders had been taken to Sadar police station.
The arrests took place after a KSU press conference in which the organisation’s leadership addressed the violence that had occurred during the rally.
Police investigate as Shillong remains tense
Authorities are now investigating the incidents of vandalism, vehicle damage and alleged assaults reported during the protest.
While the KSU has been demanding action on issues it says are important for the indigenous population and the future of Meghalaya, the violence during the rally has shifted attention towards law and order.
With 31 vehicles reportedly damaged and public monuments vandalised, the incident has become one of the most serious episodes linked to the recent protests in Shillong.
The immediate focus for the authorities is likely to be identifying those responsible for the acts of violence and preventing further escalation, while the KSU’s demands remain at the centre of the broader dispute.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
