JNC questions police action during public hearing for Shree Cement project in Meghalaya

The Jaintia National Council (JNC) has accused the Meghalaya government and police of using force and intimidation against its leaders and residents ahead of an environmental public hearing related to Shree Cement’s proposed integrated cement plant and limestone mining project at Sutnga.

In a statement, JNC central president Sambormi Lyngdoh said the organisation received reports of police action on July 30, a day before the public hearing. The JNC alleged the steps were taken to limit opposition to the project.

Detentions and alleged lathi charge

The JNC said its leaders were travelling to express solidarity with residents of Elaka Sutnga and nearby villages when police intercepted them at Umpleng. The organisation claimed that six of its members, including Lyngdoh, were detained and treated “like criminals.” It also alleged that police used lathi charges against its members during the incident.

JNC further alleged that residents who opposed the project faced intimidation, violence and coercion in the days before the hearing. It claimed police personnel from Garo Hills were deployed to detain JNC leaders and to prevent local residents of Elaka Nongkhlieh and Elaka Sutnga from participating freely.

Questions over process and road obstruction

The JNC rejected what it called the legitimacy of the public hearing. It said the consultation process was not free or fair and described it as an exercise run jointly by the government and the company rather than a genuine platform for public opinion.

Beyond the allegations of detention and force, the organisation raised questions about what it said were restrictions affecting public movement. It claimed that public roads were blocked by people it linked to Shree Cement, and said the blockade affected commuters, including patients. The JNC also questioned why authorities allegedly did not stop stone-pelting and damage to vehicles reported during the hearing.

The statement said these events reflect a wider approach that, in the JNC’s view, prioritises industrial development over local livelihoods. It alleged that state political leadership, including the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers, enabled the actions against protesters. The organisation said it would continue to seek accountability through democratic means and work with affected communities.