SHILLONG: Roy Kupar Synrem, President of the Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC), marched into the Sadar Police Station today to face intense questioning over a speech that has sent shockwaves across social media.
The firebrand leader, who also heads the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizations (CoMSO), was summoned following an FIR that accuses him of making inflammatory remarks capable of shattering communal harmony.
The controversy stems from a massive solidarity gathering held at Motphran on March 11. While the event was organized to support the Garo community, viral clips of Synrem’s speech quickly drew the eagle eyes of law enforcement.
The allegations are serious: authorities claim his words targeted a specific religion and issued a bold call for the Hynniewtrep people to “take up arms” alongside their Garo brothers to combat illegal immigration—a statement police fear could ignite a state-wide firestorm.
Emerging from the police station after a marathon session with the Investigating Officer (IO), a defiant Synrem didn’t hold back when speaking to the press.
“Certain phrases were plucked from my speech and circulated wildly on social media,” Synrem stated. “The FIR claims my words against a particular religion and my call to stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with the Garo community using ‘tools and weapons’ could disturb the peace. But I told the IO—you must look at the entire speech, not just the clips!”
While Synrem flatly denied any conspiracy to incite violence or cause physical harm, he stood his ground on the spirit of his message, asserting that indigenous groups must remain united.
However, the law is moving fast. SI M. Khardewsaw of the Lumdiengjri Police Station filed the FIR suo motu, slapping Synrem with Section 196 (1)—a heavy-hitting charge involving the promotion of enmity between different groups.
