From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: In a shocking incident, unidentified miscreants on Monday attacked the PWD Inspection Bungalow here where Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, HSPDP candidate and incumbent MLA from Nongstoin, was lodged.
The incident occurred at around 7 am when Lyngdoh had risen from the bed and had drawn the curtains of his room when the window panes were shattered.
Lyngdoh, who escaped unhurt, was surprised to see broken glasses all over his pillow.
Later, he stated that never in his political career had he been attacked by anyone nor had he any enemies.
He, however, did not rule out the possibility that as the polling day was approaching and his vote bank was growing, people were trying to frighten him. The attack could be a part of a strategy against him, he said.
Lyngdoh challenged the attackers to come forward and attack him on his face.
The Police department after investigating the scene said that the window panes might have been shattered by a stone shot from a catapult, even though they did not rule out the possibility of a bullet being fired.
Investigation is on and the truth of the matter is being ascertained, police said.
HSPDP condemns attack, demands security for party chief
The HSPDP on Monday expressed shock over the attack on its president and sitting MLA of Nongstoin, Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, at the PWD Inspection Bungalow in Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills on Monday.
“Lyngdoh has been in public life and service for more than fifty years now and this attempt on his life through whatever means possible is against the basic principle of fair elections and contravenes provisos of the Representation of Peoples’ Act, 1951 as well as Section 171 of the Indian Penal Code,” HSPDP general secretary EK Raswai said in a statement here on Monday.
The party has also expressed concern over the lackadaisical attitude and response of those at the helm of affairs for conducting smooth and peaceful election.
“As such, we demand full security to be provided to HS Lyngdoh, the senior most living statesman of the State and that the same be accorded with immediate haste,” Raswai said.
While condemning the attack, Raswai demanded that the Election machinery in the State must not shy away from being proactive on reports sent from time to time on use of money power by various candidates in different constituencies in order to garner votes.