New Delhi: Tensions have been running high in Meghalaya villages close to the Bangladesh border, since the death of two men on March 27. They were killed allegedly by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The deceased have been identified as Sujit Dutta (35) and Esan Singh (24). In connection with the deaths, police arrested two members of the KSU – Shanborlang Shati (26) and Mesadapbor Skhembil (26) – on April 2. A local court sent the accused to seven-day police custody.
Demanding the release of the accused, KSU members staged a demonstration outside a local police station in Sohra town on Wednesday afternoon. Earlier in the day, police said about five people, wearing masks and helmets, hurled a petrol bomb towards the Mawlai police station in Shillong and set fire to a police vehicle.
On the other hand, the family of Sujit, one of the deceased, are afraid to step out of their homes in Ichamati, located 30 kilometres from Sohra. The bodies of the deceased were found hours after KSU took out a protest against CAA. While Sujit is a Bengali, Esan is an Adivasi.
“Bengalis like us don’t want to step out because they are scared they will be beaten. Nobody in our family has gone to work,” said Sushil Dutta, younger brother of Sujit, according to the Indian Express.
According to a complaint lodged by Sujit’s father, “There was a gathering of KSU members in connection with CAA protest at Ichamati Bazar, and on being agitated, they attacked my son and killed him.”
Sujit was a labourer in the limestone quarries and was out at work when he was killed, according to the family. “Around 3 pm that day, I thought of going to the bazaar. But I heard the KSU is holding a meeting so I told my family to stay at home. My brother was at work and did not have a phone. Around 5.30 pm, a colleague of his came and told us he had been caught by KSU members while walking home.”
Police are still non-commital if there’s any connection between anti-CAA protests and the killings. However, ethnic tensions have been running high. Deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong called for restraint from both sides.
“Be it tribal NGOs or non-tribal NGOs, my request and appeal to all is please don’t cross the line. You can’t cross the line. Let the law prevail,” he told the media.
The latest incidents are reminiscent of similar anti-CAA protests that had turned violent in Ichamati. A KSU member was killed in a clash between KSU members and non-tribals in the area in March 2020. Violence also spread to other parts of Meghalaya, resulting in the death of two Bengalis in Shillong amidst incidents of violence against non-tribals.
Coordinated and Welfare Committee, a group representing the interests of non-tribals in the areas surrounding Bholaganj near Ichamati, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding justice for families of the deceased and expressing concerns about discrimination against non-tribals in the state.
