SHILLONG — KSU general secretary Reuben Najiar has questioned East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem over alleged illegal extortion from trucks, asking who will take responsibility for money allegedly collected by police personnel at Mawkhanu and Thangshalai.
Najiar raised the issue on Thursday after appearing before the court following the expiry of his 14-day interim bail, granted after the death of his father. He said earlier media reports had already flagged alleged money collection from trucks around June 18, and questioned why the police and district administration did not act.
“If these things happened under his supervision, who will take responsibility? Can he say he knew nothing when the reports had already come out?” Najiar asked, referring to Syiem.
He questioned whether the alleged collections pointed to a wider system of corruption within the administration.
The KSU leader then connect the issue to the August 19 rally, after which several KSU leaders were arrested following violence. Najiar maintained that the organisation’s leaders did not throw stones or assault anyone.
He also questioned the absence of police personnel during the rally. Syiem had said permission was given on the basis of trust, and therefore police were not deployed.
“Was it trust or was it a trap?” Najiar asked, alleging that the lack of protection left KSU leaders exposed.
He said KSU leaders only learned about the violence after the rally had ended, despite the SP and DC having their contact numbers.
Najiar said the organisation would not back down over the issues it was raising. Then he turned the police action back on the department:
“You arrested us for organising a rally. Now that police are accused of illegal extortion, whom will you arrest?” he asked.
