By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 23: Khasi Students’ Union president Raymond Kharjana and general secretary Reuben Najiar walked out of Shillong District Jail on bail on Thursday evening. Hundreds of union members gathered to welcome them and later marched to the organisation’s Jaiaw office.
The two leaders had been in custody since their arrest on the night of August 19, hours after a black-flag rally organised by the KSU ended in violence. As news of their release spread, members assembled at Motphran with union flags before proceeding in a procession led by the two leaders, who secured bail from the District and Sessions Court, East Khasi Hills.
Their release comes amid the continuing detention of other KSU members arrested in connection with the violence. Vice-president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet, arrested along with Kharjana and Najiar, is currently out on 20-day interim bail granted from October 7 on medical grounds.
Najiar had earlier obtained 14-day interim bail on September 17 following the death of his father; he surrendered on October 1 and was sent back to jail.
Those still in custody include Jeremaiah Pohthmi, president of the KSU Nongmensong Unit and assistant general secretary of the central executive committee, arrested on August 24; Samuel Kharbani, secretary of the KSU Shillong Mihngi Circle, arrested on September 3; and Banjoplang Dkhar, president of the same circle, arrested on September 11.
The union has decided to review the progress of its campaign and decide its next course of action. Najiar said the central executive committee had continued to pursue the union’s demands during the leaders’ incarceration and that some progress had already been made. The leadership will now consult the current office-bearers before deciding how to take the campaign forward, while complying with the conditions imposed by the court.
Denying any involvement in the clashes, Najiar said neither he nor Kharjana had pelted stones, vandalised vehicles or assaulted anyone, and maintained that they had been present at the rally throughout. He expressed apprehension that the arrest of the union’s top leaders was intended to target the organisation and undermine its campaign.
The KSU has five demands, several of which concern issues affecting the Khasi community. Najiar said the union would not abandon its campaign, asserting that the demands were intended to benefit the wider public. Among the developments he cited were the Assembly’s passage of amendments to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) and the removal of personal interviews for Grade C recruitment from January 1, 2027.
On the MRSSA, which has remained unimplemented since 2016, Najiar said the government had assured the union that facilitation centres would be established at Umling, Ratacherra and other key locations. The union will also continue to pursue the Shree Cement matter and issues relating to NEIGRIHMS. On alleged extortion incidents in Mawkhanu and Thangshalai, he said the central executive committee had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, following which the district administration initiated an independent inquiry.