KSU writes to Deputy CM accusing police of abusing power and making arbitrary arrests against indigenous people

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 16, 2024

The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Tuesday sought the intervention of the deputy chief minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong into the alleged abuse of power and arbitrary arrest by Laban police.

In a letter to Tynsong, President of the KSU Laban Circle Reuben Najiar alleged that the working of the police officials in Laban and the department as a whole is partial, arbitrary and unjustified especially to the indigenous Khasi community who often have to bear the brunt of such discrimination and prejudice at the hands of the law enforcement agencies.  

“The union would like to urge you that appropriate steps may be taken to reform the working of the police department in the state as abusive powers of police officials in the State is a complex issue with deep rooted systematic causes and having far reaching consequences. Addressing this issue requires concerted efforts from government authorities, civil societies, organisations and the community at large. Law enforcement agencies must uphold the rule of law, protect human rights and serve as guardians of justice for all its citizens,” he said.

He also warned, “Henceforth, the Union would not tolerate any such kinds of injustice against the Khasi communities and the Union members and if such atrocities continue, confrontation with the police department is imminent.”

Najiar said the decision to submit this petition was following a minor scuffle among two groups of boys (age group between 16-20) belonging to non indigenous and non-Khasis from in and around Laban area over a petty money lending/snatching issue. They know each other and are also friends.

After the minor scuffle, their issues were resolved among themselves and both the parties left to their respective residents.

“But to the utter surprise, the police officials of Laban Police Station on their own accord went to the residence of one of the non-Khasi boys and asked him to come to the police station and after which also forced him to lodge an FIR against the other Khasi group. The said boy didn’t want to lodge an FIR as they are friends but the police persuaded the same. Later in the evening, the police called the Khasi boys to come to the Police Station, and upon arrival arrested them and even when the family members and members from the Union repeatedly asked about their arrest, they were declined any answer and were told to inquire from the Superintendent of Police, EKH,” he said.

Najiar said in the meantime, there have been a fake message and photo being circulated in Whatsapp that some person had been stabbed in Laban and is dead but the photo was of an elderly person who passed away few days earlier.

The Police arrested two Khasi boys in the instant case of Laban PS Case No. 21 (04) of 2024 and the sections which was levied against them for such a petty matter is highly condemnable by the Union which are S. 307 (Attempt to Murder), S.364 (Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder), S. 325 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and other sections under the Indian Penal Code.

“The manner in which Laban Police handled the matter and made arrest can be said to be very impartial and communal in nature,” he said adding that “It seems as to that the police are using divisive tactics to turn the other communities against Khasi communities and to harass the local Khasi of the area.”

He informed that the two Khasi boys were released the following day on April 13, 2024 by the Court of Shillong as the allegations made are baseless in nature.

Reiterating its stand against such abuse of power by the police officials against indigenous communities, Najiar said the Union would like to seek justification over the working style of the police; firstly, being that in the instant case why would the police officials force any person to lodge an FIR and this is seen many times when the cases are against Khasi communities, especially against the Union members where the police would go a step further so as to even draft the FIR against the Union members.

He also said there was also an instance in Laban itself where by 2-3 Khasi persons were assaulted by a group of 10-15 non – Khasi people belonging from Muslim communities in Laban on the 6th of April, 2024 but the police at this instant case did not initiate any steps as to arrest the culprits even though names and address of the people who has assaulted the Khasi persons were furnished to them.

“This clearly shows how partial the working of police officials is against the indigenous people and there are too many such instances to quote here,” he said.

Alleging that police are making arbitrary arrests of persons belonging from Khasi communities, Najiar said, “…the Union members and when questioned, the answer would always be that “it is the order of the higher ups. The Union would like to question who are these “higher ups’ ‘. Is it the high ranking police officials, perhaps the SP/ DGP or the ministers from the State or Centre or some radical religious groups/ individuals who have a nexus with the Khasi communities and the Union.”

The reason as to stating the above mentioned statement is that, the Union has observed that when ever any Khasi person is brought in for questioning or is being alleged to be involved in any matter, the police officials would always first asked a question if that person is associated with the Union and if that person is associated, he would directly be arrested without looking into the merits of the case and thus it can be clearly stated that either the police has a nexus with the Union members or some so called “higher ups” is directing the police officials to arrest the Union members.

“Thirdly, the Union would like to state that why has there been no action by the police officials against the perpetrators who are involved in spreading rumours and fake messages about a person being stabbed in Laban who is spreading communal hate speech and disrupting the peaceful co-existence of a mixed community in Laban or are the police siding with non-Khasi communities against the Khasi communities because as stated above in the instant case, the arrest of the Khasi boys over such a petty issue clearly indicates the blood lust of the police department for Khasi communities,” he said.

He also stated, “…if Union members post any messages/photos in social media platforms against the police or government, they would be immediately called by the Cyber Crime Cell and harassed but it is in this instant case, why is the police silent. Time and again, the members of the Union and the Khasi communities at large had been victims to such injustice, partiality, police brutality, etc.”