SHILLONG : The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has issued a legal notice to two senior police officers of East Khasi Hills, objecting to statements allegedly linking two persons arrested in the September 18 Urkaliar naka-checking incident with the student organisation.
The notice has been served on Dangsan Khyriem, MPS, SP (City), Shillong, and Hari Prasant M.R., IPS, SP (Traffic), East Khasi Hills, through the advocate representing the KSU Central Executive Council.
According to police, the incident occurred on September 18 near Samkhamti Petrol Pump during routine naka-checking. Two persons travelling on a scooty allegedly attempted to evade the checkpoint and rammed into Additional SP (Traffic) Lovish Garg, causing injuries. The two were subsequently chased and apprehended, while the scooty was seized and the accused were produced before the court.
The KSU has objected to subsequent police media briefings in which the arrested persons were described as suspected members of the organisation.
“There is no credible or admissible material to show the accused are members or associates of the KSU. We have asked the authorities to clarify on what basis this link was communicated to the public,” said Pynshai Kupar M Dkhar, Information and Publicity Secretary of the KSU CEC.
Dkhar said the Union was not seeking to interfere with the investigation or judicial proceedings in the case.
“We are not obstructing the investigation or the judicial process. Criminal liability has to be fixed on evidence and due process. You cannot publicly associate an organisation with an alleged crime on mere suspicion or unverified information,” he said.
According to the KSU, the statements have affected the organisation’s reputation and could create a public impression that it was connected to the alleged incident.
“Linking the accused to KSU without verification has caused reputational harm and creates public misunderstanding about the Union,” Dkhar said.
The legal notice has sought two actions within 15 days. The first is a formal retraction and public apology, to be published with equal prominence on the same media platforms where the statements were made.
The second is an undertaking to cease and desist from making any further statements that the KSU considers false, unverified or derogatory against the organisation, its members or its leadership.
The KSU has warned that failure to comply with the demands could lead to further legal proceedings.
“If the demands are not met in 15 days, KSU will be constrained to pursue appropriate civil and criminal remedies under law for defamatory statements,” Dkhar said.
He also reiterated that the Union respects the ongoing investigation and judicial proceedings in connection with the September 18 incident.
“We respect the investigation and judicial proceedings in the September 18 case. But respect for law must apply equally to all, and public statements by authorities must be based on verified facts and evidence,” he said.