Agitation announced against release of Congress leader

Twenty organisations in Meghalaya have decided to protest the release of a Congress leader who allegedly sponsored the Shillong jailbreak of May 31.

Twenty organisations in Meghalaya have decided to protest the release of a Congress leader who allegedly sponsored the Shillong jailbreak of May 31.

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The organisations, under the banner of Steering Committee Against Murder of Democracy would stage a protest march on June 12, hold a public rally besides writing to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Leader of Opposition L K Advani.

Congress leader Thomas Nongtdu, a member of district council, was arrested on June 3 on the basis of the statement of a slain criminal's aide that the Congress leader had financed for arms for the seven jail breakers.

Nongtdu was, however, released on June 5 on the basis that there was no sufficient evidence about his involvement with the criminals, after dropping all charges against him.

President of the influential Khasi Students Union (KSU) Samuel Jyrwa said before the start of the march, leaders of various NGOs would explain to public the gravity of the situation, which compelled the NGOs to converge and become a critical mass to address the issue of miscarriage of justice.

Only a public movement would compel the government to take action against those "involved in the recent bungling" of the Nongtdu case, he said.