SHILLONG, Oct 29 - The Meghalaya Government has beefed up security for Friday�s procession of Rangbah Shnongs (headmen and chiefs), however, it expects the traditional heads to adopt a �respectable approach� like it did in the last rally held in May.
Thousands of people are expected to participate in the procession. The procession is being held to pressurise the Government to pass the Village Administration Bill that have been passed by the District Councils of Khasi and Jaintia Hills. Currently, the Bill is before the Governor, V Shanmuganathan, who is yet to give his assent.
�From what we have experienced from the last rally held in May that they all gave sensible and reasonable speeches. There was no extreme speech. We expect the same respectable approach in Friday�s procession,� Chief Secretary PBO Warjri said.
Stating that the Government doesn�t foresee any trouble during the rally despite such a huge number of people passing through some of the city�s busy thoroughfares, Warjri said that the Rangbah Shnongs have also volunteers for crowd control.
�We expect the same kind of approach and moderation as the May rally,� the Chief Secretary said. On the other hand, the district administration has altered traffic arrangements and turned several roads into one-ways and also opened alternate roads with one-way traffic, so that people and vehicles can move smoothly during the procession.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, P Dkhar, said that adequate security has been put in place. He added that Magistrates and extra police forces would be on duty during the procession.
�Permission has been given for the procession to move from 11 am to 2 pm. We expect the rally to be peaceful and without any incidences,� Dkhar said, adding that the organisers have assured of full cooperation during the procession.
Meanwhile, district SP, M Kharkrang, said that enough security forces would be deployed throughout the State Capital on Friday. �Though we don�t expect any untoward incidences, we are taking precautionary measures,� Kharkrang said.
