Shillong, June 2: The press fraternity today condemned the "arbitrary and ludicrous behaviour" of Meghalaya police personnel who raided the residence of senior journalist and Shillong Press Club general secretary Powell Sohkhlet here late last night on the grounds that they were looking for his family member who is an activist of the Khasi Students Union (KSU).

The press also condemned the throwing of petrol bombs at a press vehicle that was carrying The Shillong Times from here to Tura last night.

A statement issued by the Meghalaya Editors' and Publishers' Association (Mepa) today termed it a "shocking" incident as some masked Meghalaya police personnel stormed into the house of Sohkhlet, joint editor of Khasi vernacular Mawphor.

"This act of the police has caused a fear psychosis and consternation to the inmates of the house, who were asleep during the incident. This is high-handedness, arbitrary and violation of rules by the police with regard to the house search without observing the laid down sections of the law under CrPC," Mepa said.

Condemning the "arbitrary and unwarranted act" of the police, Mepa demanded that those responsible be punished according to the law and police authorities desist from such acts in the future, especially in dealing with scribes.

Further, Mepa strongly condemned those who threw petrol bombs at the vehicle carrying the newspapers and asked the police to track down those responsible and punish them according to the law.

Shillong Press Club also condemned the police for raiding Sohkhlet's residence. A statement issued here said, "What is appalling is that all personnel, except the team leader, were masked as if afraid to disclose their identity. They entered Sohkhlet's house without a warrant and in his absence. They said they were looking for a family member who is a KSU activist. All personnel were male and they even entered rooms occupied by female members, thereby terrifying them and the children."

"Was it necessary to treat a student activist as though he were a wanted criminal or a militant? Should not he be called to report to the police station concerned if at all the police needed him? Was it necessary to barge into the residence late at night as if there was no tomorrow?" the statement said.

The Shillong Press Club also took strong exception to this "uncouth and unprofessional behaviour" of the police and demanded action against the personnel with immediate effect. "It is expected that Meghalaya police, especially Shillong police, live up to its declared mission of maintaining a 'safe and secure Shillong'," the statement said.