Shillong, September 17: Police are examining CCTV footage from different parts of Shillong to identify those behind a series of petrol bomb attacks and arson incidents reported in the city on September 16 and 17.
Speaking to Batesi TV on Thursday, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Hari Prasanth MR said the first incident was reported at around 3.20 pm on September 16, when unidentified persons hurled a petrol bomb at the Directorate of Mineral Resources office at Risa Colony. Later the same night, at around 9.45 pm, another petrol bomb was hurled at Lum Diengjri Police Station.
The incidents continued in the early hours of September 17, when miscreants allegedly set fire to a government vehicle parked inside the premises of the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) at Laitumkhrah at around 3 am. Around half an hour later, at approximately 3.30 am, a police booth at Nongmynsong was also set ablaze.
Hari Prasanth said police are scrutinising CCTV footage from the affected areas and other parts of the city in an effort to trace and identify the persons involved. In view of the incidents, police have intensified security measures across Shillong, including increased patrolling and vehicle checking.
Additional police personnel have also been deployed at government offices, particularly those located in isolated or less-frequented areas, as a precautionary measure to prevent further attacks.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong on Thursday warned that the government will not tolerate criminal acts following a series of petrol bomb attacks and arson incidents targeting government establishments, vehicles and police facilities in Shillong. Tynsong said he has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to adopt a more proactive approach and further strengthen security across the city. “That is being taken care of by the police and I have already instructed the DGP to be more proactive,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said police have also been instructed to install additional CCTV cameras in vulnerable and strategic locations, while stepping up patrolling across Shillong. “I have already instructed them that you have to further strengthen the security by installing more CCTV properly wherever the area is required, it has to be done, and at the same time the police have to further strengthen patrolling in the city,” Tynsong said.
Asked how long such incidents could continue, he said criminal activities cannot always be predicted. “You cannot say for how long. You see, criminal activities happen every minute,” he said. Tynsong, however, assured the public that the government and police would take all possible measures to curb such incidents and bring those responsible to justice. “We assure the public from the government side, whatever is possible we will do it and we will not tolerate this kind of criminal activity,” he said.
Issuing a warning to those involved, Tynsong added that the law would eventually catch up with them. “I warn once again those criminals to stop criminalisation. The law will follow them and justice has to be done,” he said.
On whether the prevailing situation warranted deployment of additional security forces, Tynsong expressed confidence in the capability of the state police. “Our own police force, as of today, is good enough to handle the situation,” he said.
