SHILLONG | The Centre has approved the deployment of five companies of central armed forces in Meghalaya following violent protests in Shillong that left several people injured and caused extensive damage to public and government property, officials said on Thursday.

The Union Home Ministry has sanctioned four companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and one company of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) for deployment in Meghalaya until August 25. The forces will assist the state police in maintaining law and order, a senior Home Department official said.

The deployment was sought by the state Home (Police) Department following what officials described as a “sudden deterioration” in the law-and-order situation in Shillong.

Violence erupted across several parts of the city on Wednesday during a black-flag rally organised by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU). Stone-pelting and vandalism were reported from areas including the Fire Brigade, Nongmensong, Polo, Barik and Mawlai.

At least 31 vehicles, mostly government SUVs, were damaged, while a government vehicle was set ablaze. Several pedestrians were also reportedly assaulted during the unrest. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed the damage and said busts of Swami Vivekananda and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at the Relief and Rehabilitation Colony were vandalised.

Following the violence, police arrested KSU president Raymond Kharjana, vice-president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar late on Wednesday night.

The three were detained from a Shillong hotel where they were holding a meeting and taken to Sadar Police Station, sources said. Police booked them under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in connection with alleged damage to public property, assault and other offences.

The arrests came hours after KSU leaders addressed a press conference expressing regret over the violence while denying that members of the organisation were involved in vandalism or arson. The student body alleged that vested-interest groups had infiltrated the rally with the intention of derailing its agitation and tarnishing the KSU’s image.

The rally was organised to press the union’s five-point charter of demands. These include implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, legislation to regulate migrant workers, reforms in government recruitment and resolution of recruitment-related concerns at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS).

The KSU has also demanded cancellation of the July 31 public hearing for the proposed Shree Cement project in East Jaintia Hills and action against officials over what it described as excessive use of force during the hearing. The union has renewed its demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya.

Tensions remained high after police conducted a late-night raid at the KSU office in Shillong’s densely populated Jaiaw area on Wednesday.

A local elder alleged that residents resisted the police operation, following which tear gas and stun grenades were used. The elder further claimed that property in and around the KSU office was damaged during the operation.

Several former KSU leaders have condemned the midnight raid, alleging that excessive force was used during the police action. The deployment of additional central forces comes amid heightened security concerns in Shillong as authorities seek to prevent further escalation and restore normalcy following Wednesday’s violence.