The District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills, Abhilash Baranwal, IAS, has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, within the jurisdiction of Sadar Police Station ahead of a proposed rally and sit-in demonstration by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on August 21.
According to the order, the KSU is scheduled to take out a rally from its office at Jaiaw to Motphran, culminating in a sit-in demonstration at Khyndailad. The programme is scheduled to begin at 11 am and continue until 6 pm.
The District Magistrate stated that the proposed rally and demonstration could potentially disturb public peace, obstruct movement, disrupt normal life, damage public or private property and endanger human life. In view of the situation, immediate preventive measures have been deemed necessary to maintain public order and prevent any untoward incident.
Under the order, no person, group or organisation will be allowed to organise, hold or participate in any procession, rally, demonstration, public meeting or assembly without prior written permission from the District Administration.
Assemblies of five or more people intended to conduct protests, demonstrations, rallies or gatherings that may disturb public order or disrupt normal life have also been prohibited.
The order further prohibits the use of loudspeakers, megaphones, amplifiers and public address systems in public places without prior permission from the competent authority.
People have also been barred from carrying arms, sticks, stones, rods or any other objects capable of causing injury or damage to life and property in connection with prohibited protests, rallies or gatherings.
The order warned that any person, group, organisation or association found disrupting normal life, obstructing public or employee activities, enforcing shutdowns, damaging public or private property or committing acts affecting law and order may face criminal liability under Section 223 of the BNSS, 2023, along with other applicable provisions.
The order was issued ex-parte due to the urgency of the matter and came into force with immediate effect. It will remain in force until further orders.
