HT Bureau
SHILLONG, JULY 26: As many as 10 activists of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) were arrested after they were checking and stopping vehicles ferrying tourists to Sohra and Dawki at Umtngar on Friday.
According to the East Khasi Hills superintendent of police Sylvester Nongtnger, the ten were arrested and a case has been registered against them.
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In the morning today, it was reported that HNYF took action against tourist taxis as well private cars with Assam registration, turning them back from the Umtyngngar area.
These vehicles were barred from proceeding towards popular tourist destinations such as Sohra and Dawki.
The HNYF’s decision comes in response to allegations that local vehicles are being prevented from ferrying passengers to these destinations.
Many tourist vehicles with AS registration were turned back.
HNYF president Sadon K Blah said the checking was conducted to send a clear message to the state government for immediately setting up of entry-exit points as mandated by the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, which clearly stated that “even tourists have to produce verification that they are visiting the state as tourists.”
Meanwhile, terming the incident as unfortunate, Meghalaya deputy chief minister incharge home (police) Prestone Tynsong said, “It is very unfortunate that incident happened today and we were not aware and we never expected that few group of people will just do like that (checking tourists visiting Sohra and Dawki).”
He also assured, “Let me tell you very bluntly that the law has taken its own course. We will not allow such things to happen again.”
