State police seek help of their Assam counterparts
Our Bureau
JOWAI/SHILLONG: The State police have made the first arrest in connection with the recovery of a high-intensity improvised explosive device (IED) in Jowai on Saturday.
Jowai Police arrested Md. Sakol Uddin, the owner of the fish stall at Iawmusiang market near the Police Canteen from where the IED was recovered.
To speed up the investigation process, the State Police on Sunday sought the assistance of their Assam counterparts to locate those responsible for sending the IED to Jaintia Hills.
“We know that the IED consignment had come from Barpeta in Assam. We have sought the help of the Assam police to locate the people involved in sending the IED consignment into the State,” a senior police said on Sunday.
He also said that police can establish the motive behind sending the IED consignment only after any arrest is made.
The police official confirmed that it was the handiwork of militants, but added that it was too premature to establish whether it was the job of local militant groups or any from outside the State.
Meanwhile, Jaintia Hills-based NGOs including the All Jaintia Youth Welfare Organisation (AJYWO), the Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF) and the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) have strongly condemned the incident and demanded for creation of a bomb disposal unit in all districts of the State.
The NGOs also urged the people to remain on high alert in the near future.
The AJYWO lauded the initiatives taken by the District Police and the Bomb Disposal team from Shillong which saved the life of many people.
The JYF and the FKJGP urged the District Police to be aware of such situation in the near future.