Sporadic incidents reported in Meghalaya after lull for 4 days

Shillong, March 5 (PTI): After a lull for four days, an incident of violence was reported during curfew hours on the outskirts of the Meghalaya capital here on Thursday, while curfew was relaxed at many places and mobile internet services were restored in all the six districts where it was withdrawn, police said.

Miscreants hurled stones at a taxi in the Nongmynsong area on the outskirts of the state capital while the night curfew was on, the police said, adding that the vehicle was partially damaged in the incident.

Shillong and its outskirts under East Khasi Hills district are under a night curfew since Saturday.

However, curfew was lifted at Nongmynsong at 6 am till further orders, officials said.

Unidentified men attempted to torch a car at the Umsning bypass in Ri-Bhoi district, partially damaging the vehicle, the police said.

Currently, there is no night curfew in Ri-Bhoi district.

Mobile internet and messaging services, which were withdrawn in six districts of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region on Friday night, were restored at 10 am, the police said.

Meanwhile, curfew has been relaxed in Shillong and other areas of the state, and law-enforcing authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation.

Curfew imposed in the Iew Duh market area on Saturday afternoon was lifted for seven hours at 6 am.

Curfew has also been relaxed in the Police Bazaar and Anjali Cinema areas from 9 am till 4 pm, Assistant Inspector General of Police G Iangrai said in a statement.

Two persons were killed in separate incidents of attacks by miscreants, after a rally organised by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) at Ichamati against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and to demand the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) was targeted by a group of people on Friday, killing a KSU member.

A 28-year-old man was stabbed with a broken bottle by an unidentified miscreant and shops rented to businessmen were set on fire in Photkroh town in South West Khasi Hills district on Sunday.

Congress demands ‘proper’ inquiry into Ichamati violence

The opposition Congress in Meghalaya on Wednesday demanded a “proper” inquiry into the attack on anti-CAA protesters in Ichamati that left a person dead.

Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma said that he is afraid that the manner in which the government is handling the situation, those behind the attack would go scot-free.

“We would like to see that the government comes up with a proper inquiry into the whole background which led to that unfortunate avoidable incident,” Sangma told reporters.

He said the perpetrators must be brought to book without any attempt to manipulate or protect anybody.

On the government-instituted inquiry, he said, “I am sorry I cannot trust this government and the magisterial inquiry maybe just an eye-wash.” Shillong witnessed violent incidents in the past few days after members of the Khasi Students Union (KSU) were attacked by a group at Ichamati on February 28, leading to the death of its member, Lurshai Hyniewta. The incident had taken place after a meeting held there to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and demand implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime in the state.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of the Congress was prevented from visiting the Ichamati area.

“Our delegation had gone to Sohra and when some of our members wanted to go further (Ichamati), they were advised it was not the appropriate time,” Sangma said. Meanwhile, the Congress has decided to table a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act during the upcoming budget session of the assembly that will begin on March 13.