SHILLONG: Leader of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) Issack Basaiawmoit appeared before Sadar Police on Wednesday following a formal summons in connection with the death of a youth suspected of drug involvement.
The case relates to an alleged assault that took place in the MUDA area of Khyndai Lad, after which the victim later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
Speaking to the media after his interaction with the police, Basaiawmoit outlined the sequence of events as he understands them:
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November 23, 2025: The youth, suspected of being a drug user, was allegedly assaulted.
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December 4, 2025: The victim died at Nazareth Hospital after several days of treatment.
Basaiawmoit clarified that neither his name nor the HYC was mentioned in the original First Information Report (FIR) filed by the complainants. He said his appearance before the police was part of routine investigative procedures.
“There is no mention of my name or the organisation in the FIR. This summons is part of the investigation to ascertain facts,” he said.
However, the HYC leader suggested that the move could be motivated by attempts to malign the organisation’s anti-drug campaign.
“This could be the handiwork of those who are uncomfortable with HYC’s relentless war against drugs. There is an effort to link us to this unfortunate death to derail our movement,” Basaiawmoit alleged.
Despite the legal scrutiny, Basaiawmoit said the HYC remains resolute in its fight against narcotics, sharply criticising what he described as the unchecked flow of drugs in Shillong.
He accused the authorities of failing to effectively curb drug trafficking in the capital, asserting that civil society groups are often left to step in where enforcement falls short.
Summarising his stand, Basaiawmoit said, police summons will not deter or demoralise the organisation; HYC will continue and expand its “search and seize” operations against drug peddlers.
The HYC maintains that it is being targeted for its activism, law enforcement agencies face mounting pressure to ensure that the fight against drugs does not come at the cost of due process and the rule of law.
