NONGSTOIN: The District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Office (DAH&VO) was engulfed in flames after the building caught fire on late Tuesday night.
People residing near the office claimed that the fire started around 10:40pm. They immediately informed police following which, fire tenders arrived at the scene and doused the flames.
In the fire a PC, computer table, curtain and papers were burnt.
Only last Saturday, the Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills District had asked all the heads of departments to man their offices at night with chowkidars, a directive vehemently ignored by the DAH&VO.
The Superintendent of Police, West Khasi Hills, Sylvester Nongtnger said that if the office had a chowkidar the incident could have been avoided.
The SP added that there was no evidence to suggest that the fire in the office was ignited manually. He added that no traces of petrol or glass fragments were found at the sight to suggest that a petrol bomb could have been used to torch the building.
