Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) filed an FIR against top East Jaintia Hills officials and Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) members. They claim the district suppressed public participation during a July 31 hearing for Shree Cement. The session concerned expansion plans at Lum Syrman. The union alleges the process violated environmental norms.
Police blocked locals from the venue. Officers used tear gas at Umpleng Market on the evening of July 30. A woman and child were reportedly harmed. Around 5 am on July 31, residents heading to the site faced more trouble. Locals claim attackers threw stones at them near Lad Tongseng. Police watched and did nothing.
The FIR names Superintendent of Police Shailandra Bamaniya and Deputy Commissioner Manish Kumar. It also lists MSPCB Environmental Engineer Franky Laloo and Member Secretary G.H. Chyrmang. KSU claims officials ignored the absence of stakeholders. A key road was dug seven feet deep to stop travel. Machinery blocked the route.
The union named Jingkyrmen Sukhlain, Syrpai Sukhlain, and Fencing Bareh as agitators working for corporate interests. They want an investigation into possible financial kickbacks. The KSU demand is clear. “The actions of the District Administration and the Police render the said Public Hearing a nullity in the eyes of the law,” the KSU stated in its complaint.
KSU demands a probe into potential corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. They cited the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for alleged criminal conspiracy and rioting. The union claims officials failed to protect citizens. Authorities have yet to independently verify these claims.
Updated at 9th September 2026 at 9:47am
The union filed the complaint specifically with the Crime Branch Police Station in Shillong. Beyond the initial accusations, the KSU now identifies the affected individuals as residents of Shnongrim and Daistong villages and the Elaka Nongkhlieh. They are calling for authorities to track down the heavy machinery used to sabotage the road, demanding an audit of the equipment ownership and the specific orders behind the seven-foot-deep excavation.
While the union maintains that no formal proof of bribery exists yet, they have formally requested that an anti-corruption agency examine the entire project for a potential financial quid pro quo. This includes reviewing all monetary links between the company, land deals, and the orchestration of the police blockades. The KSU claims they waited for the government to take the first step, but they filed the FIR only after officials failed to initiate any criminal proceedings against those behind the disruptions.
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