SGPC sees red in atrocities on Punjabis in Shillong

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 2

Taking cognisance of attempts to displace the Sikhs from Punjabi lane area in Shillong, the SGPC has criticised the authorities concerned.

The colony was inhabited by people from Punjab, who were brought to Shillong around 200 years ago by the Britishers. An assault incident in May last year had resulted in group clashes, following which the area was put under a curfew for over a month.

Following the direction of a high-level committee of the State Government, the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) officials served notices to the residents and directed them to furnish documents within a month to prove legality of their stay. At present, prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in the area.

Gobind Singh Longowal, president, SGPC, said the Shillong authorities have been harassing the 300 innocent Sikh families.

“The government intends to grab their land. Earlier, the Punjabis were attacked by a mob and the SGPC had approached Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and local administrative authorities. We will help the aggrieved families and appeal for an intervention of the Central Government,” he said.