Meghalaya: Jailed KSU activists on hunger strike

Shillong, Jun 20: The jailed Khasi Student's Union(KSU) activists have gone on an indefinite hunger strike to protest their detention under the Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act(MPDA), even as the government has decided not to release them.

''All the five KSU activists, who were illegally detained under the MPDA, have gone on indefinite hunger strike since last evening in the Tura district jail and police lock-up in Shillong,'' KSU Leader Mebanker Lapang said here today.

Mr Lapang, who had gone underground along with KSU frontline leaders Samuel Jyrwa and Hamlet Dohling, fearing detention under MPDA, said the jailed KSU activists alleged that their detention under MPDA was in violation of their fundamental rights.

A fortnight ago, the state police had arrested KSU Organising Secretary Daniel Khyriem and four other activists Phyrnai Kharkongor, Antonio Warjri, Ferdinand Wahlang and Pyndaplang Lyngdoh under MPDA during the recent KSU agitations over the uranium mining issue.

''I don't have any problem to let them go on with their hunger strike as long as they don't disrupt public tranquility,'' East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner B Dhar said.

Mr Dhar said the KSU activists were arrested and booked as per the law of the land for disrupting public peace by holding bandhs, road blockades and picketing offices, besides other crimes like arson and stone pelting.

''The KSU members will not be released as they have broken the law,'' Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee said.

The state witnessed burning of vehicles and attempts to torch a government office during the KSU agitations.

Meanwhile, the KSU called for a five-day road blockade, beginning from yesterday, in three districts of Meghalaya, to force the government to release their jailed union members.

UNI