Over 100 police personnel injured in Shillong violence

The capital city of Meghalaya is also known as the Scotland of East was in turmoil and unrest following May 31 night violence but the situation is slowly limping back to normalcy.

The clash between protesters and security personnel has left many injured and even landed few protesters in jail.

Over 100 police personnel were injured during the clash, while police detained at least 40 persons and arrested 15 others.

Superintendent of Police of Shillong City Stephan A Rynjah said that over 100 police personnel were injured.

Some of the people received severe injuries during clash with protesters.

The top Meghalaya cop further said that to bring back normalcy the Meghalaya police and other security agencies have exercised maximum restraint.

In past 6 days, police had detained at least 40 persons and later released. While 15 others were arrested for trying to hurt police personnel and for destroying public properties.

On May 31, a minor scuffle between the people Khasi tribal community and Sikh community (non-tribal) – many of them dalits, was happened at Them Iew Mawlong (Sweeper lane or Punjabi lane) in Shillong town.

On that day, some ladies of the non-tribal community were going to fetch water at their locality (Punjabi lane) and found that a Shillong Public Transport Service (SPTS) bus obstructing their way and they asked the bus conductor (belongs to Khasi tribal community) to move the bus. The bus conductor used some offensive words targeting to the non-tribal ladies, which agitated them.

The ladies threw some stones at the bus and went to their homes and complained to the other male members over the situation. The male members came out and assaulted the bus conductor and three minor boys (Khasi tribal community) and they were injured.

Immediately, some fake message also got circulated as Sikh community people attacked on Khasi community youth.

Following the incident, several people had gathered at Mawkhar point area and tried to move to the Punjabi lane area, but security forces had prevented them.

On May 31 night, the situation turned violent as people who gathered at Mawkhar point had pelted stones targeting the security personnel and security forces also resorted baton charge, using tear gas shells to disperse the mob.

On June 1 evening, a mob gathered at Motphran area in th city and pelted stones are lobbed petrol bombs at security personnel and five police personnel were injured.

Apart from it, mob had damaged three police vehicles and one cab was burnt.

On June 2, police had recovered 26 petrol bombs and several weapons from the roadside at Punjabi Lane.

The top Meghalaya cop  Rynjah also said that the mob had attacked at a CRPF camp in the city, in which at least five CRPF personnel were injured.

Police had also arrested two persons for alleged assaulting the bus conductor with three Khasi minor boys.

On the other hand, about allegations whether protesters were funded, Rynjah said that investigation is going on.

 

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)