SHILLONG: Responding to potential law-and-order challenges, the District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills has invoked Section 144 within and around the premises of Secretariat Hill, effective immediately and until further notice, on Wednesday.
To maintain order and safety, the issued notification strictly prohibits any form of demonstration or assembly within a 200-metre radius of the Meghalaya Secretariat Building and Raj Bhavan. Furthermore, the carrying of arms, lethal weapons, or any objects potentially usable as weapons, which could inflict harm or serious injury, is forbidden within the stipulated area.
The imposition comes on the back of intelligence reports suggesting planned rallies and demonstrations by several groups across the district.
“Information has been received regarding the intentions of certain organisations to hold demonstrations in different parts of the district. It is believed that allowing such demonstrations within the ‘No Procession or Assembly Zone’ could impede traffic flow, trigger congestion, disrupt public spaces, and potentially disturb the peace. These activities have neither been notified to nor approved by the competent authority,” read a notification issued by the District Magistrate.
Any breach of the established order will entail legal consequences under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the notification further stipulates.
