Shillong, May 25: Police have launched an investigation into the vandalism of a vehicle belonging to Pastor MacDonald Pyngrope, with authorities examining whether the incident could be linked to an ongoing dispute within the Church.
The incident took place on Sunday evening at Wahingdoh in Shillong. According to East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem, police received information around 9:30 pm that a white Bolero belonging to Pastor Pyngrope, which was parked along the roadside, had been vandalised. “The rear glass of the vehicle was broken,” the SP said.
Pastor Pyngrope subsequently lodged an FIR at Lumdiengjri Police Station. The case was later treated as a Zero FIR and transferred to Sardar Police Station for further investigation. The SP informed that Sardar Police Station has registered a non-cognizable case after receiving cognizance from the court.
Police are currently working to identify those involved and determine the motive behind the incident. “Police are in the job to find out the culprits and also trying to ascertain whether the culprits had the intention of stealing, because there were things inside the vehicle, or it had ulterior motives,” Syiem said.
When asked whether the incident could be linked to internal Church disputes, the SP said police would be able to confirm only after completing the investigation. “Yes, already there is a rift in the Church but we will be able to ascertain only after we investigate the matter, whether it has to do with the rift in the Church or a simple case of theft of property,” he stated.
The SP further confirmed that Pastor Pyngrope was the same individual who had earlier filed an FIR alleging corruption within the Church. Providing an update on the corruption case, Syiem said police had already chargesheeted the first case involving the alleged disappearance of Rs 3 crore. He added that Pastor Pyngrope has since filed another FIR alleging misappropriation of an additional Rs 4 crore.
According to the SP, the matter has been placed before the court, which directed that the new allegations would continue to be investigated as part of the same case if fresh evidence or developments emerge.
