Shillong, Aug 24: East Jaintia Hills police on Thursday resorted 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 said.

Protesters also attempted to set the pandal on fire but police managed to bring the situation under control, he said.

The SP further 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 party.

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

He further said the police, at first, couldn’t do much due to presence of many women and children. However, later, in order to disperse the unruly mob, reasonable force was used against them.

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.

In a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of the district, they strongly opposed the proposed public hearing on August 24 for expansion of M/s Meghalaya Cement Ltd at Thangskai village, and on August 25, for operation of Shale Mining by the M/s Green Valliey Cement Ltd at Brichyrnot village.

The NGOs had stated that the presence of these cement companies in the district have not fulfilled the needs and requirements of the local people and the district as a whole pertaining to the employment of the local educated unemployed youth.

Presently, only a few local residents are employed in these cement companies.

Also read: Assam: Gauhati HC acquits all 6 accused in 2004 Dhemaji bomb blast

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