During an ongoing Environmental Public Hearing at the campus of the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills (EJH) district of Meghalaya, many people which included police personnel got wounded because of a faceoff between the NGOs and the police on Saturday.

The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) organized the public hearing which was chaired by EJH DC, E Kharmalki on Saturday to discuss about the limestone and Shale Mining Project of the M/s Star Cement Meghalaya over an area of 42.051 hectares under Brishyrnot village in EJH.

Members of different NGOs like Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU), Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), Hynniewtrep A’chik National Movement (HANM), East Jaintia National Council (EJNC), Saiñdur, Tipkur Tipkha, Ieng, Ehrngiew, Khun Hynñiewtrep (STIEH) and Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) “vigorously” barged into the campus to stage a protest which turned the hearing upside down.

A police source said, “The incident started when a large number of NGOs’ members forcefully tried to enter the campus to stage a protest”.

“Seven personnel including two women personnel and the DSP sustained injuries,”.

The police were compelled to throw tear gases at the crowd to hold them from entering into the campus and from pelting stones at the law enforcers.

Members of the NGOs were also injured during the clash.