The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been accused of “threatening to shoot” civilians if found in the campus of Eastern Air Command headquarters in Upper Shillong.
The Federation of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) has alleged that the IAF has pasted posters along the boundary wall of the headquarters of the Eastern Air Command located at Upper Shillong, threatening to shoot trespassers.
The FKJGP, an influential community organisation in Meghalaya, on Friday submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills district, seeking intervention of the district administration.
“While we understand that trespassing into any high security premises is a criminal offence, but this kind of threat to use of force by shooting has caused concern among local residents as none of them so far have any ill-will against the IAF,” FKJGP’s upper Shillong circle president Kitboklang Nongphlang said.
There has not been any case of trespassing into the IAF premises since the Eastern Air Command (EAC) was shifted to the area since June 1963, Nongphlang said.
The people of the area are simple villagers who have no bad intention against anybody let alone the IAF, he said.
He said people of the area would daily move outside the boundary wall for their day-to-day activities and any error of judgement by either the simple villagers or the armed IAF personnel could result in fatality given the threat already given in such IAF posters.
The FKJGP urged the DC to take up the matter with the IAF to allay fear among the local residents and ensure the age-old good relationship between the defence forces and civilians of the area.
The IAF has, however, denied the allegations of issuing threat.
“It is not a threat. It is warning and information, which is normal for all military establishments, which have closed compounds,” Defence PRO wing commander Ratnkar Singh said.
“Also, the village heads have already been sensitised and prior intimation has and prior intimation has already been sent to the SP of East Khasi Hills district,” he said.