For pelting stones on police ten HITO members arrested in Shillong

Shillong: Ten members of the Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization(HITO) were arrested on Monday for allegedly pelting stones and assaulting a magistrate and police personnel, who stopped them from taking out a protest march towards the secretariat in Shillong, Meghalaya.
The incident took place when HITO president Donbok Dakhar was summoned to the Sadar police station by the Investigating Officer (IO) in connection with a case registered against him in July. The case concerned HITO members wearing black uniforms, similar to those worn by the police’s Special Operations Team (SOT).
When HITO members tried to go to the secretariat to throw their placards, the police had to resort to lathi charge and stun grenades. HITO members also pelted stones on the police injuring a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP).
East Khasi Hills District SP Sylvester Nongtnger said that the HITO members have decided to take out a protest march to the secretariat without prior permission from the district administration. He said that the procession is also in violation of the order u/s 144 CrPC passed by the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, Shillong.
“Thereafter, the HITO members turned violent and forcibly pushed the human barriers, officers and jawans on duty. As a result 1 (one) Magistrate and 3 policemen on duty were assaulted by the HITO members and They injured their men.
To control the unruly crowd, the police used stun grenades and light lathi charge to disperse the illegal gathering and in the process the pressure group pelted stones at the police resulting in injury to the head of 1 Dy. . Superintendent of Police. The injured persons were shifted to the hospital for their medical treatment,” Nontnger said.
The SP said that ten persons have been arrested in this connection and a case is being registered.
Various organizations including the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) have condemned the incident. MPCC president Vincent Pala said the behavior of HITO members was “unacceptable” and they should be held accountable for their actions.