Shillong, July 26: The city police has detained 10 members of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) in connection with a suo moto case registered by the police.

The case was initiated after HNYF members forcefully prevented tourist vehicles from Assam from proceeding towards Sohra and Dawki.

The detained HNYF members are currently held at Sadar Police Station in Shillong.

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Sylvester Nongtnger, stated that no formal complaints had been lodged against the HNYF members who stopped the vehicles at Umtyngngar.

However, upon arriving at the scene, police discovered that the HNYF members had illegally detained the tourists, leading to the suo moto case.

Earlier on Friday morning, HNYF members had stopped all Assam vehicles in the Umtyngngar area, enforcing a ban on these vehicles. The HNYF alleged that the Assam vehicles were operating without restrictions and demanded that the government introduce a policy to regulate the movement of foreign vehicles carrying tourists.

HNYF demands entry-exit points

Meanwhile, HNYF president Sadon K Blah said the checking was conducted to send a clear message to the state government to immediately set up entry-exit points as mandated by the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, which clearly states that “even tourists have to produce verification that they are visiting the state as tourists.”

He said the government’s failure to set up entry-exit points have prompted the HNYF members to take such action. “Yes, we admit it affects the tourists but we are not targeting the tourists but we want the government to implement the MRSSA, which clearly states that tourists are subjected for verification while entering the state of Meghalaya,” he added.

Home Minister condemns checking drive

Terming the incident as unfortunate, Deputy Chief Minister incharge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong said, “It is very unfortunate that incident happened today and we were not aware and we never expected that few group of people will just do like that (checking tourists visiting Sohra and Dawki).”

He also assured, “Let me tell you very bluntly that the law has taken its own course. We will not allow such things to happen again.”

“Let me be very clear about any issue you have. We are there to discuss, the door is open, sit down , discuss and then come to a solution. That is very important. Be it anybody in the government, I think that is the principle of democracy, where we need to discuss, sit down across the table and thereafter resolve the issues but not the behaviour done by few young boys like they did today in Umtngar, I think that is totally wrong,” Tynsong said.

Asked if he was aware that such a checking would be held and the tourists be harassed, Tynsong said, “My point is very clear; nobody can cross the limit, let the law take its own course of action and let me tell you repeatedly, I would like to say please anybody don’t take the law into your own hands. If you have issues, the secretariat is open, we can sit across the table and come up with a positive note.”

On the petrol bomb attack at a house at Jhalupara, Tynsong said that no arrest has been yet but police are on the job to identify and find out and nab the culprits behind the incident.

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