SHILLONG: Additional security forces have been deployed at Umling and adjoining areas of Ri Bhoi on Thursday where there are chances of illegal transportation of coal.
A senior police official said that after the aborted move on the part of the public to attack the SP and the DSP of Ri Bhoi on the night of January 26, police have beefed up security with additional manpower including deployment of CRPF personnel.
Police have also initiated a separate inquiry into the matter after filing an FIR.
Police resorted to blank fire after the SP and the DSP of Ri Bhoi were gheraoed by a mob at Umling after the police took action against some middlemen against their move to transport coal illegally. It was on January 26 night that the SP and DSP along with three gunmen carried out a surprise check on coal laden trucks plying from 20th Mile, GS Road via Sohkhwai-Umdu-Umling village road in Ri Bhoi, bypassing the Umling weigh bridge.
The police team had detected a group of around 20 middlemen along the road at Sohkhwai village and had asked them to disperse.
But a mob of around 400 villagers including women and boys gheraoed the police team and attempted to burn the police vehicles. The mob also tried to attack the police personnel which compelled them to fire in the air to disperse the angry mob.
