City blast: Police taken by surprise, admits SP

SHILLONG: After the low intensity IED blast at Jhalupara on the night of November 12, police are now trying to ascertain if there was involvement of more than one group in the incident even as the police are not brushing aside the claim of the proscribed HNLC.
A day after the blast which partially damaged three vehicles at Jhalupara, the HNLC had claimed its hand in the incident.
“We are not ruling out involvement of any group including HNLC, but we are also focusing on more than one group who chose not to claim responsibility,” East Khasi Hills district police chief M. Kharkrang said.
He also said that recce of the area where the blast was triggered was done by those who carried out the blast. “It is a pre- mediated act after much preparations”, Kharkrang said.
A crater was created due to the impact of the blast at the bush adjacent to Jeevan Ram Goenka Memorial Hospital,  Jhalupara which had also forced the residents to come out of their houses after the buildings shook.
Asked about the motive of those who triggered the blast, Kharkrang said that it must have been done    to send a message to get the reaction of the police and the public.
While stating that the blast was due to the trigger of low intensity IED, Kharkrang said that it was unexpected though the police had in the past prepared for similar situation by carrying out mock drills despite criticism from several quarters.
Asserting that the police would try all means to prevent the occurrence of such incidents in future, Kharkrang said that with the support of the people, police would be able to prevent untoward incidents.
He said puja celebrations passed off peacefully with the co-operation of the people and suggested that it would be better to have CCTV surveillance during large gatherings or functions.