Meghalaya: Media, bystanders attacked by masked protesters, several injured; action demanded

The FKJGP's so-called unemployment protest demonstration, which was held on Friday in Shillong, turned violent after some disguised protesters attacked innocent spectators and bystanders, infuriating many segments of society.

At 11 a.m., protesters gathered at Motphran and marched to Madan Iewrynghep through Khyndai Lad, the IGP, Barik, and Dhankheti, obnoxiously assaulting bystanders and a media representative while the few police officers present stood by and did nothing as the revolting events playing out in front of them.

Two masked protestors attacked a scooter driver on GS Road, while the traffic police on duty were left perplexed by many flag-wielding beatings of persons in Dhankheti. One individual was hurt after being attacked by the demonstrators, who also vandalised several two-wheelers.
Despite explaining that he was a member of the media, evangelist Nicholas Khongwar, a reporter for the local newspaper U Mawphor, was attacked for taking videos.

Angry enough to demand that the court take suo motu notice of the targeted violence and administrative errors, several members of civil society organisations and individuals were outraged.

The media was not exempt from the cruel event; journalist Nicholas Khongwar of U Mawphor was knocked up by various individuals during the rally. Meghalaya Editors and Publishers' Association (MEPA) condemned the incident.

The fact that the mob of adolescents did not spare the two journalists even after they identified themselves is uncalled for and abhorrent. Due to this, MEPA implores the rally's organisers to immediately identify the responsible parties, hold them accountable in accordance with the law, and extend an apology to the two journalists.

The Shillong Press Club (SPC) denounced the "ugly episode" at Dhankheti, where violent miscreants masquerading as rally participants and going from Motphran to Madan Iewrynghep went on the rampage, beating bystanders, commuters, and media personnel.
The SPC issued a statement saying, "This action of theirs was uncalled for and highly condemnable by every member of a normal civic society."

Meanwhile, Toki Blah, a social activist, asserted that there was no connection between the violence and employment. Investors avoid Meghalaya because of these violent social situations, he claimed.
"Two employment-related problems have been found. There is no more room for growth in the government employment market. Second, the most effective source of employment we have is tourism. So, do we draw visitors by abusing them? Such warped thinking can only emerge from a disordered mentality, Blah stated.