Mother's Union threatens to agitate if KSU activists not released

Shillong, June 25 (UNI) The Federation of Mother's Union or Ka Synjuk Ki Seng Longkmie today set a three-day deadline for the unconditional release of the jailed Khasi Student's Union (KSU) activists, even as the union imposed a six-day ''night public curfew'' in three districts of Meghalaya.

The government had arrested 17 KSU activists and booked seven others under the Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act (MPDA) for holding the state to ransom, imposing strikes, office-picketing and road-blockades to demand the release of their jailed activists and opposing Uranium mining in the state's West Khasi Hills district.

''The situation may get worse, if the government does not release the arrested KSU members immediately,'' FMU Secretary W Jyrwa said after submitting a memorandum to the Cabinet Sub-Committee for Public Grievances Chairman Martle N Mukhim.

She asserted that the Mother's Union would launch a massive agitation if the government continues to take an intransigent attitude towards their demand.

Ms Jyrwa has also urged the government to resolve the present impasse through a dialogue with the KSU members.

The student's body, which has been spearheading the movement against Uranium mining since June 4, had called for a fresh ''night public curfew'' from 2000 hrs tomorrow to 0500 hrs everyday in East, West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts.

The ''night public curfew'' would affect the National Highways -40 and 44, the life lines of Mizoram, Tripura, Barak Valley of Asom and parts of Manipur.

''We have no option but to resort to more agitations after the government failed to release our members,'' KSU president Samuel B Jyrwa told UNI here over the phone from an undisclosed location.

Mr Jyrwa, who had gone into hiding to evade police arrest, said the state government was taking vengeance by arresting his members and booking them under the MPDA after majority of the people opposed the Uranium mining project at the public hearing held at Nongbah Jynrin.

About 75 per cent of the people, who attended the public hearing had opposed to Uranium mining fearing of health and environmental hazards.

Meanwhile, East Khasi District Deputy Commissioner B Dhar today promulgated section 144 CrPC in Shillong after some organisations proposed to organise a public rally in and around the Shillong Municipal area to chalk out agitational programme.

Mr Dhar told reporters that the crackdown on KSU activists will continue in view of their fresh agitation in the state.

''We will have to act against the KSU after the Supreme Court order had banned imposing of bandh and road blockade in the country,'' Mr Dhar said.

UNI