SHILLONG: After putting the State police under high alert on the possible presence of terror sleeper cells in the state, the district administration of East Khasi Hills on Saturday conducted a massive verification drive of persons with doubtful antecedents.
In the drive, 684 persons were picked up from areas located along the Fourth Furlong and Pynthorbah near the Polo Grounds.
“684 persons were taken to the Sadar and Madanryting police stations for verification,” East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) M Kharkrang said.
Of them, 596 were released after they produced valid documents, while the rest 88 were released with sureties, Kharkrang said.
These 88 persons will have to report before the Pasteur Beat House with valid documents, he said.
On the need for a sudden drive, the SP said, “This was done as a precaution against criminals and illegal foreign nationals from settling in parts of the city.”
The NIA, which is probing the Burdwan blast case in West Bengal, has indicated that it would investigate on the role of some elements in both Assam and Meghalaya.
