4-day night road blockade from Apr 24 in Meghalaya

Shillong, Apr 21 (UNI) Protest against appointment of a retired bureaucrat as Meghalaya State Electricty Board chairman turned worse after the Khasi Students' Union called a 4-day night road blockade from April 24.

The KSU-sponsored three-day office picketing in the state capital ended yesterday.

With Chief Minister remaining firm on the government's decision of appointing Mr P J Bazeley as the board chairman, the agitating student organisation last night held an emerency meeting that decided to intensify the stir.

The road bloackade has been confined to four districts of East and West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi and remain in force from 1900 hrs to 0600 hrs each day.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister D D Lapang has expressed serious concern over the the KSU's announcement of second phase of agitation.

Mr Lapang, now camping in New Delhi, last night said the agitation would harm the students most.

He reiterated that the student leaders could come to the negotiating table instead of resorting to violence.

The Guwahati-Shillong road which the agitators have targetted for the proosed road-blockade ''does not belong to any particular state and its blockade would seriously affect the neighbouring states of Asom, Manipur and Mizoram,'' he said.

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