SHILLONG : Residents of Daistong village on Tuesday appeared before the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) in connection with their complaint over the manner in which the public hearing for the Shree Cement project was conducted on December 19, 2025.
Speaking to reporters after appearing before the Commission, social activist Reachingson Siangshai, who represented the Daistong residents, said the MHRC had admitted their petition filed in February 2026 and had conducted around seven to eight hearings on the matter.
Siangshai said Tuesday marked the first time the residents had been summoned for a physical appearance before the Commission.
He said the petition relates to the conduct of the public hearing held on December 19, 2025, alleging that residents and members of the general public were prevented from reaching the venue.
According to Siangshai, the residents had alleged in their petition that people were stopped at two different locations while attempting to attend the public hearing.
He claimed that residents of Daistong were stopped at one location a few kilometres before the village, while members of the general public and NGOs were allegedly prevented from proceeding further from another location.
Siangshai also claimed that some of those involved in the alleged blocking were wearing masks, referring to visuals that he said had appeared in media reports.
The Daistong residents had approached the MHRC over what they alleged was the manner in which the public hearing was conducted.
Siangshai said the Commission had informed them that an order would be passed in the matter, although the residents had not been told when the order would be issued.
“We don’t know when, whether it is after one day or after one week or after one month,” he said.
He added that the residents had already placed their concerns and allegations before the Commission through their petition and were now awaiting the MHRC’s decision.
The December 19, 2025 public hearing was related to the proposed Shree Cement project, with the conduct of the hearing becoming a subject of complaint before the human rights panel.
The MHRC’s order is awaited.