SHILLONG: The State Police on Monday arrested one person on suspicion of his involvement in the fire that razed the BSNL store room-cum-warehouse at Mawlai Mawiong destroying property worth several crore rupees.
Speaking to media persons here in the city, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, M Kharkrang, informed that the arrested person, one Alanlas Kyllait (24), had been earlier involved in a similar arson-related case but had managed to escape the police net.
The arrested person resides next to the site of the BSNL warehouse.
Kharkrang also took exception to the fact that the two security guards, who were posted at the warehouse, were not present at the spot when the incident occurred.
The SP also asserted that proper security arrangements should have been put in place at the warehouse which housed materials worth crores of rupees.
“People cannot expect the police to be present everywhere,” he told reporters.
Commenting on the overall law and order situation in the city, the police official admitted that miscreants were hell bent on creating law and order problems but police have been trying their best to prevent any such incident.
He also informed that the police intended to file the chargesheet in the case as early as possible.
He made it clear that the police have not taken any move to book the arrested miscreant under the Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act (MPDA).
Meanwhile, senior police officials and BSNL officials visited the site on Monday and took stock of the situation and assess the damages.