20 HNYF members arrested; 87 shops burnt down
From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH: Miscreants believed to be members of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) hurled petrol bombs at the Rajabagan market in Ri Bhoi district, damaging 87 shops belonging to different communities and damaged four motorcycles parked in one of the shops. They also set on fire another motorcycle which was driving past and torched a thatched hut near the main road on Saturday afternoon at around 1 pm.
The district administration acted swiftly and arrested 20 HNYF members immediately following the incident.
Talking to media persons, the local residents said that the miscreants, numbering over 50, halted in front of the markets. They came in vehicles and immediately created mayhem, throwing stones and hurling petrol bombs at the shops.
The miscreants immediately fled from the scene after the incident. Police personnel rushed to the spot with fire tenders to extinguish the fire.
The miscreants also assaulted a motorist and burnt down his motorcycle bearing registration number ML10 A 3224. In the fracas four other motorcycles were also burnt. All the motor cycles bore Assam registration numbers.
Altogether 87 shops comprising grocery stores, pharmacies, tea shops etc., belonging to people of different communities were burnt down by the miscreants after which they also torched a hut nearby.
Speaking to news persons, Mahiram Timung, Rajabagan headman, informed that the incident occurred when he was on his way to attend a peace meeting between the two factions of the HNYF and some of the villagers which was convened by the Byrnihat Police Outpost but after covering some distance from his village he heard of the arson and rushed back to the village. Timung said the people of his village had no dispute with anyone. He said it was people from the neighbouring village who had turned his village into a war zone.
Meanwhile, Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner, Akash Deep and Acting SP MK Dkhar rushed to the trouble spot to take stock of the situation.
The Executive Magistrate of Kamrup Metro along with the SP of Kamrup, Assam accompanied by a strong police force rushed to the spot to prevent a backlash in the villages of Assam inhabited by communities originally belonging to Meghalaya.
Speaking to the media, Akash Deep, later, informed that the District Administration had taken full precautions to control the situation in Rajabagan village. He said that police had apprehended over 20 members of the HNYF who were involved in the arson.
Akash Deep also informed that a relief camp has been set up in the village itself where basic amenities would be provided to the affected families while necessary precautionary measures would also be adopted to prevent any backlash and also to restore a sense of security and confidence among the people.
Asked about the next line of action, the Deputy Commissioner said that peace committees comprising people of all communities would be constituted immediately to bring peace and restore law and order. He also informed that stern action would be taken against the miscreants for attempting to disturb the peace and instigating communal conflicts.
According to Police information, on Wednesday last at around 4 pm, some HNYF members in three-four vehicles led by Sham Nongkling, general secretary, scuffled with two newly-joined HNYF members Sanjip Sangma and Marwel Sangma at Byrnihat.
Later, the duo managed to flee to Nerbong village and screamed for help. Following this, residents of the area came out and assaulted the HNYF members besides damaging the vehicles they came in.
Following the scuffle, two HNYF members Recording Wahlang and Moon Bamon sustained injuries and were shifted to Nazareth Hospital, Shillong.