19 arrested; property worth crores of rupees destroyed
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Around four thousand villagers hailing from various villages within Sawymper area under Mawsynram, East Khasi Hills on Monday night attacked and set on fire the two-storied residential building of a prominent businessman of the area Tremlin Nongsiej of Mawryngkang village after alleging him of practicing witchcraft.
It is reported that property worth crores of rupees were damaged in the attack by the angry mob.
Police informed that the two-storied residential building along with household articles including cash worth Rs 18 lakh and eighteen tolas of gold ornaments were destroyed in the attack.
It was also informed that the mob torched one vehicle (Mahindra Scorpio) and also broke the windshields of five trucks, three Tata Sumos and one Tata mobile.
The police on Tuesday arrested nineteen people including a woman in connection with this incident.
Addressing a press conference here in the city, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) M Kharkrang said that the arrested people were involved in the attack on the businessman’s house. According to Kharkrang, a group of people of the village and its adjoining areas marched to the residence of the businessman and damaged his property after alleging him of practicing witchcraft.
Giving the details of the incident, Kharkrang informed that the incident was triggered when a cowherd of Domsohpian village alleged that one Banri Lyngkhoi of Langsymphud village had chased him. Following his ‘complaint’ the Dorbar Shnong of the area summoned Lyngkhoi, an employee of the businessman Tremlin Nongsiej.
After Lyngkhoi was questioned, the Dorbar arrived at the conclusion that the businessman was practicing witchcraft following which thousands of villagers marched towards the residence of the businessman and laid siege to his property.
However, prompt action by the police prevented the situation from escalating further. Police had to resort to lathi charge and blank firing to disperse the violent mob.
Informing that the family of Nongsiej was safe, Kharkrang said police would take drastic action against the perpetrators, be it the Dorbar or any individual.
Later, the arrested persons were produced in the court where police sought their custody.
Meanwhile, the Additional District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills has promulgated Section 144 CrPC in and around a two-kilometer radius of Domosohpian, Mawryngkang, Dommawria and Pongkung villages prohibiting assembly of five or more persons in the area.
When contacted on Tuesday night, Additional District Magistrate DM Wahlang informed that they have constituted a peace committee to restore normalcy in the area.
He said that Raid Sawsymper president Hayson Nongsiej is the president of the peace committee while also informing that he (Wahlang) and SDPO Sohra Ian Swer are also members of the committee from the side of the district administration.
“We have ask all the Rangbah Shnong to urge the villagers not to take the law into their own hands,” Wahlang said while also informing that the peace committee would be meeting the villagers to clarify that imposition of Section 144 CrPC does not mean that schools should close down.
He also lauded the efforts of the South West Khasi Hills district administration for taking prompt action following the incident and for ensuring zero casualties in the attack.