Shillong: KSU General Secretary Reuben Najiar surrendered in court Thursday after his 14-day interim bail expired. He publicly accepted responsibility for the violence that broke out during a black-flag bike rally held on August 19. Najiar insisted the union leaders remained at the front of the procession and claimed they did not witness the incidents occurring at the rear.
The union notified authorities of their rally plans on August 12. They also issued a 15-day ultimatum regarding their demands. Despite this, Najiar claimed not a single police officer arrived to monitor the crowd or direct traffic on the day of the event. He questioned why law enforcement failed to contact union leaders or shut down the rally as soon as vandalism began. "Regarding what happened on August 19, we never pelted stones or assaulted anyone. Nevertheless, we were arrested and we accept our responsibility," Najiar stated.
He dismissed Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem’s claim that the rally was permitted on mutual trust. Najiar labeled the situation a trap. He alleged that negative elements infiltrated the group to cause trouble. Regardless, he maintained that the recent arrests would not weaken the KSU. The union continues to oppose Shree Cement’s proposed mining in Jaintia Hills. They demand that companies operate legally without seizing local land. New members stand ready to lead the cause if their peers remain behind bars.
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