Staff Reporter
Shillong, Aug 30: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) today lodged an FIR against the Additional Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police and other police personnel of East Jaintia Hills District for allegedly abusing their power by assaulting the public including women during a protest against the public hearing for expansion of the M/s Meghalaya Cement Limited (Topcem) at Thangskai village on August 24.
“We therefore wish to file this instant FIR report against the Addl SP, Dy.SP, the police who assaulted the women and all the policemen who assaulted the lone person along with the Addl SP. These people have committed a crime and have abused the power given to them by law and therefore a case should be registered against them under prevailing law. Law is equal for everyone and hence they should also face the law for their action,” KSU Narpuh Circle president Kwilnis Suchiang said in the FIR submitted to the district police chief Jagpal Singh Dhanoa.
He said that the police have the right to take reasonable action however what had happened on that day at Thangskai village within the Topcem premises was an absolute abuse of power by the police whereby the action and physical assault taken is beyond the scope of permissibility.
“Videos have been circulated across social media platforms and it can be seen that the police have resorted to absolute force and physical assault on the public probably under the direction of the two Topcem officials as can be seen from the videos whereby two persons have called for assault against the public. The police had no right and no reason to attack the people, even women and children were not spared by the police. The police cannot claim that due to the destruction of the chairs by unruly miscreants at 12 pm, is the reason why they attacked the public at around 2 pm on that day, this is totally unacceptable. The police have chased our people like dogs and terrorists,” Suchiang said.
He further alleged that it was also seen in one video that has been shared widely that one person was brutally attacked and kicked by the police numbering 10-15 and the one leading the charge was the Addl SP, East Jaintia Hills.
He said another video which is unacceptable is the lathi assault on the women by one policeman. The woman was simply walking and did not even see the police, so why did he attack her, this is such a shame that the police have attacked an unarmed woman for no reason.
“We condemn the act of the police officials and wish to firmly state the action of the police was totally disproportionate and unwarranted,” he added.
Patna, March 1 (IANS) In wake of the alleged humiliation of a Galwan martyr's father in Bihar's Vaishali, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called up Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and expressed anguish over the incident.
He also asked the Chief Minister to take action against officers who misbehaved with the father.
Nitish Kumar himself revealed the incident in the Assembly on the third day of the Budget session on Wednesday. While BJP MLAs including Leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha were walking out from the house on this issue, he asked them to stay in.
"The Defence Minister has called me and he was concerned about it. I have assured him about the investigation. I have directed Bihar Police to investigate the matter and take action if any police officer is involved in misbehaviour with the father of Galwan martyr's son," he said.
Despite the Chief Minister's assurance, Sinha walked out from the Assembly.
Galwan martyr Jay Kishore Singh's father Raj Kapoor Singh is facing charges of encroaching on a piece of land belonging to the state government and some portion of fellow villager Harinath Ram. Vaishali police booked him under the SC/ST Act as well as under extortion ('rangdari') apart from land encroachment acts.
Singh's son Nand Kishore alleged that the SHO, Jandaha, Vishvanath Ram came to his house in Kajari Bujurg on Sunday night and humiliated his father, used abusive language against him and dragged him into the police van.
Nand Kishore also claimed that as the SHO and the complainant are from the same community, the former has taken the side of the latter.
DGP R.S. Bhatti directed the Vaishali police to constitute a team to investigate the incident. The district police was also directed to submit the report in a time bound manner and take necessary action if any official was involved in misbehaving with the martyr's father.
Complainant Harinath Ram had registered two FIRs in 2019 and January 23, 2023 against Singh for encroaching his land as well as the government road to building a monument for his martyred son.
During the police investigation, the officials said that it was found that Singh has encroached on the land of the complainant as well as the government property and due to the monument, the road was blocked and villagers were facing problems. Hence, Jandaha SDPO Poonam Keshri visited the village and gave Singh 15 days to remove the monument from the government as well as the land belonging to Harinath Ram.