City mall lodges FIR against HANM for obstruction

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 18, 2019

SHILLONG: A city shopping mall has lodged a complaint against the Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) for obstructing entry into the restroom.

This came a day after activists of the HNAM had closed down the restroom at the MarBa Hub shopping mall in Khyndailad area as a mark of opposition against the excessive fee charged by the latter for using the restroom.

The Marbaniang Project (P) Ltd in its FIR submitted to the OC of Sadar Police Station on Saturday alleged that about 15 persons claiming themselves from an NGO by the name and style HANM came all of a sudden and forcibly entered into the MarBa Hub and by use of force while closing/obstructing the entry into the restroom stuck a poster “Closed by HANM”.

It said chaos took place in the complex and the staff of MarBa Hub tried to make them understand to not block the restroom which would cause serious inconvenience to the mall customers and employees.

“The said persons who illegally gained entry into the mall also threatened the staff present in the site with dire consequences and besides, raising absurd claims. The said persons further threatened that if their demands were not mitigated they would again come back and serious consequences would follow,” the complainant said.

While urging the police to initiate action as per law, the complainant has also requested for posting of police personnel in front of the mall to avoid any such further misadventure by anti-social elements.

On Friday, the leaders of the HANM’s anti-influx operation cell had conducted an inspection to the mall after complaints received from the public that the mall was charging Rs 30 for using the restroom.

The secretary the anti-influx operation cell Nelson Kharbani had also told reporters that the organisation would immediately lodge a complaint with the deputy commissioner for his intervention and necessary action on the matter.

“This is the first time that we have come across public having to pay such a huge amount for using restroom,” he said while adding that the restroom in the mall is no different compared to the public toilets at the MUDA complex, which is charging the public only Rs 5.