SHILLONG, Aug 6 - Meghalaya police fired teargas shells and resorted to a mild lathicharge when a rally, organized by the Hill State Democratic Party (HSPDP) tried to defy prohibitionary orders here today. Some of the protesters received minor injuries.
The HSPDP is opposed to the imposition of the Meghalaya building bye-laws in the scheduled areas (areas under the jurisdiction of the District Councils) of the State, arguing that it has no authority to do so and gave the Government a week�s time to withdraw the notification.
The Hill State Democratic Party brought out the rally at Malki Field along with the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) today and tried to march towards the Main Secretariat. During the rally, HSPDP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit and others addressed the gathering.
Earlier, the district administration had imposed Section 144 CrPC, prohibiting assembly of five or more persons within a radius of 500 metres of the Meghalaya Secretariat area. But as the rallyists sought to defy the order, the police fired teargas shells and also lathicharged some of the protesters to control stone pelting.
Meanwhile, the Government clarified that the building byelaws are being implemented in the master plan areas of the State. The byelaws are being imposed not just in the State Capital, but also in places such as Tura, Garo Hills, Jowai in the Jaintia Hills and Byrnihat in Ri-bhoi district, as part of the master plan.
Meanwhile, following the confrontation with the district administration, a delegation was allowed to meet Meghalaya Home Minister Roshan Warjri and Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh to discuss about the byelaws.
Basaiawmoit said after the meeting that another meeting would be held between the delegation and the Government, after Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who is out of station, arrives in the city. The Ministers also assured that the byelaws would be discussed threadbare and awareness would be created about them.
