KSU launches two-day public outreach across Shillong
The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) will hold a series of public meetings in several localities of Shillong on August 17 and 18 as it escalates pressure on the State government over five pending demands, the Union said in a statement.
KSU General Secretary Reuben Najiar said the meetings will begin at 7 pm each day and aim to secure public support on issues the Union described as urgent for the Khasi community.
- August 17: Mawlai Bus Stand, Last Stop Laban, Poksheh and Umlyngka (Upper Shillong)
- August 18: Laitumkhrah Police Point, Karbom (Mawprem), YMCA Mawkhar and Iew Nongmensong
"The Union is stepping up its public outreach to seek support from the people on issues it considers urgent for the Khasi community," the statement said.
At the centre of the campaign is the KSU demand for the immediate annulment of the public hearing held on July 31, 2026, regarding the proposed Shree Cement project in East Jaintia Hills. The Union has alleged that the hearing was pre-arranged between government officials and the company, a charge it says suppressed public opposition.
The KSU has called for action against district level officials it named in the statement, specifically seeking proceedings against the Deputy Commissioner, the Superintendent of Police and other senior police officers in the district, along with officials of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board. It has also sought departmental action against those it accuses of preventing local people from participating in the hearing after allegedly being influenced by the company.
Other demands and local governance measures
Beyond the Shree Cement hearing, the Union renewed its demand for the full implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016 until an Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime is in place. The statement said the Union believes the State government has not enforced the Act over the past decade and that this has left Meghalaya vulnerable to infiltration.
Against the backdrop of unrest in neighbouring West Bengal and Assam and what the KSU described as a resultant movement of people into Meghalaya, the Union said Facilitation Centres must be set up at all 18 identified entry and exit points in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, rather than being concentrated at Umling alone.
The KSU also demanded:
- Functional District Task Forces in every district;
- That verification of residents be conducted exclusively by the Dorbar Shnong (traditional village councils), opposing any alternative verification mechanism.
| Demand | Action sought |
|---|---|
| Annulment of July 31 public hearing (Shree Cement) | Immediate annulment; departmental action against named officials and MSPCB staff |
| Implementation of Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016 | Full enforcement until ILP is in effect |
| Facilitation Centres at entry/exit points | Set up at all 18 identified points in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, not only Umling |
| Local verification | Verification to be conducted only by Dorbar Shnong |
The KSU statement linked its concerns about enforcement and verification to public safety and cultural preservation. It argued that designated facilitation centres and district-level task forces were necessary administrative measures to manage movement into the State and to verify residency.
Shillong residents in the localities named for meetings are likely to see visible KSU mobilisation on the evenings of August 17 and 18 as the Union seeks to broaden its base of public support. The meetings will provide an opportunity for citizens to hear the Union's case and raise local concerns directly with KSU representatives.
No response from the State government, district administration or the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board was included in the Union's announcement. The KSU has publicised the programme in a statement issued by its office.
Observers note that student unions and civil society groups in Meghalaya often use public meetings and rallies to press officials on regional and environmental issues; the KSU's campaign will test public sentiment in Shillong ahead of any formal government action on the matters it has raised.
