Shillong, July 13: The East Khasi Hills Police have arrested six tourists from Uttar Pradesh, including three minors, from Samuktala Police Station area in Alipurduar district of West Bengal in connection with the alleged vandalism and intimidation at Oakwood Homestay in Shillong.
The arrests followed an intensive manhunt launched after the owners of Oakwood Homestay, located in Risa Colony, lodged an FIR alleging that the tourists had threatened them, vandalised a room at the guest house and left without paying compensation for the damages.
Confirming the development, Superintendent of Police (SP) Vivek Syiem said the police received the complaint on July 11. “With regard to the incident which happened at the home stay in Risa Colony by the name Oakwood Homestay, we received a complaint on July 11 that two people had threatened and vandalized the guest house and they left without making compensation for the same,” Syiem said.
The SP said two criminal cases were registered and the East Khasi Hills Police coordinated with their counterparts in Assam and West Bengal to trace the accused. “To trace these people, we were in touch with our counterparts from Assam – SP Kokrajhar, SP Alipurduar and a team from Sapatgram. At about 4.45 pm we intercepted these people by the names of Vikas Singh, Avinash Singh, Akand Pratap Singh and three other minors, all around 17 years old,” he said.
According to the police, the accused were produced before a court in Alipurduar after being arrested by the East Khasi Hills Police team. However, since the offences invoked carry a punishment of less than seven years’ imprisonment, they were granted bail. The three minors were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in accordance with legal procedures.
Syiem said the accused have been booked under Sections 351(3), 324(3) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). “Though they have received bail, arrests have been made. The investigation will continue to ensure that we file the chargesheet at the earliest,” the SP added. Police said the investigation into the case is continuing.
