Shillong: Two members of the Khasi Students Union (KSU) from Meghalaya, suspected to be involved in the Ichamati and Mawlai Mawroh murder cases were produced before the District Court on Wednesday and have been remanded to police custody.
Cleenstar Shabong from Nongthymmai and Gary Mawlieh from Mawlai were arrested on Tuesday. The arrests have not been well-received by KSU leaders and members, who have warned of potential consequences if continuous arrests are made.
Shabong, suspected in the Ichamati murder case, has been remanded to seven days of police custody, while Gary Mawlieh, suspected in the Mawlai Mawroh murder case, has been remanded to twelve days of police custody.
Apart from the Ichamati murder case, Cleenstar Shabong (27), residing at Nongthymmai, Pohktieh, Lane-5, Shillong, is involved in 10 additional criminal cases. A charge sheet has been submitted against him in one of these cases. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the other accused individuals involved in these cases.
Gary Rinaldy Mawlieh (25 yrs), residing at Mawlai Mawroh Kseh, has been arrested in connection with the aforementioned case. Additionally, he is implicated in three more criminal cases, with charge sheets submitted against him in two of these cases. Investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the other accused individuals involved in these cases as well.
KSU leaders and members gathered outside the District Court to extend their support to the accused members. KSU president Lambokstar Marngar and General Secretary Donald Thabah expressed disappointment with the arrests, stating that such incidents have occurred in the past and continue to happen.
“But we can understand the objective of the government to detain members of KSU is to deter them from going forward with their activities towards the betterment and the welfare of the Khasi community. But our message to the government is do what you have to do but that will not deter us from going forward with our commitment and activities for safeguarding the rights of the Khasi people,” said Thabah.
Regarding the delayed justice for Lurshai Hynniewta, who was killed by a mob in Ichamati in 2020, Thabah said that the duty of the police is to find those who have failed to appear before the court.
The KSU plans to hold a meeting to discuss their future course of action. With four KSU members already arrested, the union warns of potential consequences if further arrests are made.
A total of four KSU members have been arrested so far, including two from Sohra, one each from Mawlai and Wahingdoh.
“We don’t know if police will make further arrests, but we are yet to decide about our future course of action. But we would like to issue a very strong warning to the government if it keeps on arresting and detaining our members, we will be compelled to take action which might affect the law-and-order situation in the state,” warned the General Secretary of KSU.
On March 27, 2024, Esan Sing and Sujit Dutta, residents of Ichamati and labourers at a limestone quarry, were found dead at separate locations in Ichamati and Dalda.
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Reports said that the deceased were attacked by a group of miscreants after a protest against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act organised by the KSU and other organisations in the village.
On April 10, Arjun Ray (52), a construction labourer at a private building in Mawlai Mawroh, was grievously attacked by masked individuals. Ray succumbed to severe head injuries at NEIGRIHMS.
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