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In a letter dated January 19 to the Meghalaya DGP Idashisha Nongrang, RKM Ashram’s secretary, Swami Anuragananda, requested urgent deployment of security forces in and around their school in Mawkynrew.
On January 20, the Ramakrishna Mission witnessed a mob attack on its school at Mawkynrew village. (Image: News18)
Hours before the incident of mob attack in an under-construction Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) school in Meghalaya’s Mawkynrew village on Monday, the RKM had sought urgent police protection against the threats to the school and around 168 children and staff. In a letter dated January 19 to the Meghalaya DGP Idashisha Nongrang, RKM Ashram’s secretary, Swami Anuragananda, requested urgent deployment of security forces in and around their school in Mawkynrew.
According to the letter, accessed by News18, this plea followed an ‘alarming’ public announcement made in the village, which might incite a mob to attack the school premises. “Please send additional police force and take necessary action as per the law so that the school that is providing education to 168 (2024-25), is not damaged due to whims and fancy of some miscreants who do not care about law and order,” secretary of the RKM ashram stated in its appeal.
The Mission, according to the letter, has been under court-directed police protection since last year, flagged an audio recording of the incitement as an attached evidence, stressing on the immediate need for reinforcement. “This is an urgent request to send additional police personnels to our school site at Mawkynrew where already some police personnel have been staying since last year as per the directions of the High Court of Meghalaya,” he wrote.
What did the Mission write in the letter?
Through several attached documents and evidence, the Mission detailed ongoing legal battles, citing the title suits and related miscellaneous cases, which seek to challenge the school’s land ownership, while also expressing dismay over the misuse of public platforms to incite unlawful acts.
“The reason for our request is due to the public announcement being made now at Mawkynrew village by some people to incite a big crowd to go to the school premises tomorrow (most probably in the early hours of morning) and damage the school,” he further added.
“It is very surprising that the very people inciting the public have already moved the court by submitting following cases asking the court to invalidate the school property gifted by the Sordar and Syiem of that Elaka,” the secretary of RKM ashram mentioned in the letter.
However, on January 20, the Mission witnessed a mob attack on its school at Mawkynrew village. According to a statement issued by the Mission, in spite of following due process, including securing land through a legal gift deed and obtaining approvals from village and traditional authorities, its efforts to uplift the local community through education have been repeatedly obstructed by violence and vandalism. The attack on the school on Monday was the third such attempt to destroy its premises.
“Having witnessed the vandalism twice before and inaction on the part of police, the Mission moved the Meghalaya High Court seeking protection of the property. The Honourable judge passed an Order on 19.04.2023 directing police to protect the school and also asking the parties concerned to follow the rule of law,” the Mission added in its statement providing details of the gifted land deed, the grants from union ministry and the state governments.
