SHILLONG: Another member of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) was arrested in connection with the murders in Ichamati and Dalda, East Khasi Hills.
Osternic Marbaniang, serving as the assistant finance secretary of KSU, was arrested from Shillong’s Jaiaw area, as confirmed by the police on Saturday.
Marbaniang’s arrest brings the tally of detained KSU members to four in connection with these crimes.
Previously, three KSU activists—Shamborlang Shati, Mesadapbor Skhembil (both aged 26 from Sohra), and Cleanstar Shabong (27 from Nongthymmai)—were arrested in connection with the incidents that occurred on March 27.
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In response to the arrests, the KSU issued a cautionary message to the police regarding potential law-and-order disruptions if further detentions of its members persist.
KSU general secretary Donald Thabah was quoted by a local daily on April 24, stating, “We would like to issue a very strong warning to the government that if it keeps arresting and detaining our members, we will be compelled to take action which might affect the law-and-order situation in the state.”
The East Khasi Hills district administration is considering engaging community leaders and traditional institutions to maintain peace and gather information on criminal cases.
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A meeting with stakeholders is scheduled for next week to address the matter.
On March 27, miscreants allegedly beat two individuals to death in Ichamati.
The bodies of the victims, Ishan Singh and Sujit Dutta, both labourers at limestone quarries, were recovered from Ichamati and Dalda, respectively.
According to the FIR filed by their families, the incident occurred during an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protest organised by the KSU in Ichamati.
Notably, post the arrests of the KSU members, three incidents of petrol bombs being hurled at government establishment and officials have been reported in Shillong.
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On April 26, a petrol bomb was reportedly thrown at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar in Nongmynsong.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the property sustained minimal damage.
This incident comes close to the heels of another petrol bomb attack on the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) director’s car in Madanrting on the evening of April 24.
The timing of the attack on NEEPCO’s director is significant, occurring shortly after the Meghalaya police presented two arrested members of the KSU in court.
They were linked to the murders in Ichamati and Mawlai Mawroh, where a labourer was killed by unidentified miscreanst on April 10.
