SHILLONG: East Jaintia Hills police have recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing approximately 7 Kg from the premises of M/s Meghalaya Coke.
East Jaintia Hills SP Vivekanand Singh said that the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing approximately 7 Kg was recovered from the premises of M/s Meghalaya Coke which is presently under construction at Bther village.
He said that The IED was suspected to have been planted in the intervening night of January 15 and 16 and the watchman on duty spotted some electric wires at around 6 am on January 16 and the information was given to Police.
On receipt of information, the team from Umpleng AD Camp rushed to the site and evacuated the area and subsequently, Bomb Squad from Police Headquarters, Shillong destroyed the IED in-situ.
Whole area was searched thereafter using K-9 Unit to look for evidence.
He said that Preliminary investigation showed that Gelatin which is commonly used for limestone mining in the region had been used as an explosive in the IED and the splinters have been seized as per procedure and were being sent to Forensic Science Laboratory for expert opinion.
It is to be mentioned that a writ petition vide WP(C) No. 504 of 2019 was filed by one Dame Wanhi Rymbai & Others in the High Court of Meghalaya and the Court vide its order dated 22nd November 2019 restrained the setting up of Coke Oven Plant.
However, the Court vacated the stay order and matter was disposed of on 15th January, 2020.
“Therefore, prima facie, the act appears to be an outcome of this rivalry and a handiwork of local miscreants,” he said.
However, a case has been registered in this regard at Khliehriat Police Station and the matter is being investigated from all angles.