Alleged KSU activists go berserk

Alleged KSU activists go berserk

Staff Correspondent

SHILLONG, Dec 16: Vandalism, assaults during the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU)’s drive against hawkers brought businesses activities in a portion of the busy GS Road to a standstill today. The incident started at around 11.30 in the morning, when 200 odd alleged KSU members attacked pedestrians, shops and hawkers for fifteen to twenty minutes. Eyewitnesses told this correspondent that the melee started from Motphran point and culminated in Umsohsun, and the vandalism left trails of damaged shops with scattered glass panes, goods of the hawkers thrown and destroyed, and nearly a dozen people injured.

During the attack by the vandals, the five odd CRPF personnel had to stand as spectators and, by the time the police reinforcement arrived, the youths made good their escape. The police party immediately swung into action and arrested three youths from Jaiaw area.

The KSU denied having a hand in the vandalism and accused anti-social elements of taking advantage of the union’s drive against the hawkers. President of Khasi Students’ Union, Samuel Jyrwa told The Sentinel today, “Our drive against the hawkers is based on the complaints made by the public. It has nothing to do with vandalism committed by miscreants”. So far nine youths have been arrested by the police after the incident that threw all commercial activities in GS Road out of gear. Shops throughout the one-kilometer stretch downed their shutters till evening out of fear, even as three truck loads of CRPF were deployed under the direct supervision of the Commandant.

Owners of the vandalized shops said that the sudden and unprecedented attacked caught them unawares. “We have yet to come to terms with the incident”, stated one of the bruised victims, even as he said that anyone who had grievances should rather talk to them directly rather than to perpetrate such unwanted acts. It is learnt that the police top officials have been summoned by the Chief Minister for an explanation on the incident. THE SENTINEL