Jowai, Aug 28: The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO), West Jaiñtia Hills, on Monday pasted stickers on the walls of hardware shops around Jowai and West Jaiñtia Hills District to prohibit them from selling Topcem Cement.

The drive was undertaken under its President Wanbiang Pulang.

This was done following the untoward incident during the public hearing on August 24 and the alleged instigating of police by two employees of the factory to lathi charge the protesting villagers.

East Jaintia Hills police on August 24th had to resort to firing several rounds of tear gas and lathi charge after protesters attacked a venue at Lumshnong village where a public hearing was being held. The protest was against the proposed expansion of M/s Meghalaya Cement Ltd (Topcem).

As soon as the public hearing started, the mob attacked and vandalized the entire pandal, district police chief Jagpal Singh Dhanao informed.

Protesters also attempted to set the pandal on fire but police managed to bring the situation under control. The SP informed that after consultation with the district administration and Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) officials, the venue was shifted to another place. However, the mob also attacked the second venue with the same intention and started pelting stones at police.

The protesters were chased out of the cement company campus after they threatened to attack the premises and vehicles parked there.

Earlier, on August 3, NGOs had demanded the district administration to stop conducting the proposed public hearings of M/s Meghalaya Cement Ltd and M/s Green Valley Industries Ltd on August 24 and 25.

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