Rabha students demand security in Meghalaya

Shillong, Feb 12 (PTI) The All Rabha Students Union today demanded adequate security for members of the community in Meghalaya and punish those involved in last month's ethnic clashes along the inter-state border areas. An ARSU delegation from Assam, which met Meghalaya Governor R S Mooshahary here, sought a special exercise as part of the ongoing census to enumerate the people displaced in the ethnic clashes. "There is a breakdown of law and order in Meghalaya.Meghalaya administration is totally silent with no action being taken to prevent the atrocities against innocent Rabhas residing in Meghalaya. The state government has failed to discharge the constitutional duty of protecting the life and property of people," ARSU General Secretary Jibon Chandra Rabha said in a representation to Mooshahary. The ARSU delegation demanded an immediate halt to the spiral of violence by setting up more permanent camps of security forces inside Meghalaya. "A conducive atmosphere is needed for the free movement of Rabhas", they said, seeking proper rehabilitation steps from the Meghalaya side for the displaced people. Demanding a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the victims of the ethnic clashes, the ARSU sought an inquiry into the riots by a sitting judge of Gauhati High Court. The representation also claimed that 27 people had died in the ethnic clashes, while 36 villages burnt down by miscreants and more than 30,000 people of the Rabha community displaced.