KHADC staff face mob wrath
SHILLONG: Five Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) enforcement staff and two journalists were injured after they were attacked by an unruly mob consisting of illegal hawkers with lethal weapons in city on Friday.
The hawkers led by businessman Paul Leong and his son Kimfa Marbaniang attacked the KHADC staff with lethal weapons while they were checking trading license of non-tribal traders at Iewduh.
Police arrested both the father-son duo immediately after the incident which took place at around 11.30 am.
“Both Leong and Marbaniang are kept in Sadar police station lock-up,” a senior police official said adding that six more persons have been arrested in this connection.
As per the FIR filed by the KHADC, the armed miscreants who attacked the staff were led by Leong and Marbaniang.
Two press persons — Marcus Lyngdoh, a video journalist of T7 news channel and Riva Somika Kharpran — also faced the wrath of the mob.
The incident took place while the enforcement wing of the Council was carrying out a surprise eviction drive of the roadside hawkers in Iewduh and Motphran areas.
One of the staff Teilang Lyngdoh was critically injured and was admitted to Shillong Civil Hospital.
The other injured people — P Sohphoh, Banker Kharkongor, M Thongni and P Khaphuli (all KHADC staff) and the video journalist — have been released from hospital after being administered first aid.
While taking to newsmen at the Shillong Civil Hospital, the Enforcement Wing Superintendent P Sohphoh, who was also injured in the incident, said that he along with his staff numbering around 50 had gone to GS Road near Bata Shoe Shop to conduct the eviction drive and checking of the trading license.
“While we were doing our job, a group of armed miscreants suddenly attacked us with sharp weapons,” Sohphoh said.
Meanwhile, Kimfa Marbaniang lodged a complaint at Shillong Sadar PS stating that Enforcement Inspector of KHADC along with his staff entered GS Road, Iewduh, Shillong and tried to forcibly shut down the shops of his building in-spite of being aware of the judgment and order dated Jul. 10, 2014 passed by the High Court of Meghalaya in WP No. 211/2014 in his favour which directed the Licencing Officer to open the sealed shops.
He also alleged that the KHADC Enforcement Staff assaulted his Manager and staff and also threatened them with dire consequences.