SHILLONG/NONGPOH: Though a minor incident of attempted arson case at a Puja Pandal at Umsning, Ri Bhoi district, created panic on the first day of Durga Puja, the four-day festivities began on a peaceful note elsewhere in the State.

The NGOs demanding implementation of the ILP had suspended the agitations till October 16.

Santosh Joshi, president, Puja Pandal Committee of Umsning, told reporters that the miscreants hurled three petrol bombs in plastics bottles, at the Pandal constructed at Gorkha School, but they did not explode and there was no damage.

Police have secured the area to prevent any untoward incident.

According to Joshi, though the village authority of Umsning Proper ‘B’ had rejected the permission to construct the Puja Pandal in the area, the Puja Committee had obtained NOC from the District Administration to celebrate Durga Puja.

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang, on Friday, said that police have put in place mobile patrols on motor cycles and each motorcycle has two police personnel with arms. According to Kharkrang, this will increase mobility and faster communication in case of any incident.