Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: The Jaintia National Council (JNC) slammed the Meghalaya government for using police force to break up protests ahead of a July 30 public hearing in Sutnga. JNC central president Sambormi Lyngdoh said his group faced intimidation while trying to support locals opposing the Shree Cement project. Officers surrounded JNC leaders at Umpleng.
Police detained six people, including Lyngdoh, and used a lathi-charge against protesters. The organization claims the state government imported police units from Garo Hills to silence opposition in Elaka Nongkhlieh and Elaka Sutnga. According to the JNC, this crackdown reveals a government that values corporate profit over local livelihoods.
"Our leaders were surrounded and treated like criminals or anti-social elements," Lyngdoh alleged. The JNC claims the hearing was a staged event rather than a fair public forum. They reported that corporate-backed groups blocked roads and used violence, yet the state protected those supporters while targeting opponents.
The group also alleged officials used money to manipulate public participation. They accused the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers of enabling the suppression of dissent. Despite the tensions, the JNC pledged to keep fighting. "While the public may eventually move on, the JNC will continue to document and expose what we see as injustices and abuse of power," the statement read.
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