Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma visited the RR Colony area in Shillong on Saturday and handed over a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh toward the restoration of a damaged bust of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the protective glass covering of a Swami Vivekananda statue. These monuments were targeted and damaged during sudden violence that erupted in Shillong in the midst of a rally organised by the Khasi Students' Union.
Inspecting The Damage And Meeting Local Residents
During his visit to Rynjah, the Chief Minister personally inspected the unfortunate vandalism directed at the bust of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Following the assessment, he sanctioned the amount of Rs 5 lakh specifically for the proper renovation and repair of the affected structures. While on the ground, Sangma also interacted with members of the local development committee, holding detailed discussions regarding various civic concerns and issues affecting the everyday lives of local residents in the neighborhood.
Assessing The Aftermath Of The Shillong Unrest
The high-level visit comes amidst ongoing administrative efforts to repair damaged public infrastructure and reassure citizens following the recent bout of civil unrest in the city. Official records shared by the Meghalaya Police indicated that during the height of the disturbances, as many as 31 private and commercial vehicles suffered extensive damage, while a government vehicle was torched by miscreants. Authorities received reports of violent incidents from several key localities including Firebrigade, Nongmensong, Polo, Barik, and Mawlai.
Student Union Stance On The Disturbances
Meanwhile, the Khasi Students' Union came forward to assert that unidentified trouble-makers had deliberately infiltrated their peaceful procession with the malafide intent of derailing their agitation and discrediting their ongoing movement.
