Shillong: Three Khasi Students’ Union members were remanded in judicial custody after violence marred a black-flag rally in the city.The district and sessions court in Shillong on Thursday remanded KSU president Raymond Kharjana, vice-president Pynskhemlang Sanmiet and general secretary Rueben Najiar to 14 days’ judicial custody. Police produced them in court after arresting them on Wednesday night.The arrests followed reports of violence, arson and vandalism during the rally, held to protest the state govt’s alleged failure to meet the union’s five-point charter of demands.Najiar alleged that the arrests were aimed at suppressing the movement and said the union would continue pressing for its demands.The charter seeks action against officials over the July 31, 2026, public hearing for Shree Cement in East Jaintia Hills, which the KSU alleged was “pre-arranged”. It also seeks action against the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, senior police officers and Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board officials for allegedly restricting public participation.Other demands include implementing the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016, until the Inner Line Permit is enforced; setting up facilitation centres at all 18 entry points in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, with verification only by Dorbar Shnong; implementing the amended Migrant Workmen Act, 2020; recruitment reforms at NEIGRIHMS, including an 80:20 female-to-male ratio for nurses and job reservations for locals; and removing interviews for Grade B, C and D posts, with standard operating procedures for recruitment boards.
