NONGPOH: The embers of last month’s violence at the railway project site at Ronghuna in Ri Bhoi is still burning with a fresh case of arson reported from a village in Nongpoh on Wednesday.
After lying low for a week for the district’s silver jubilee celebrations, a group of miscreants set ablaze the office of the District Sericulture and Weaving manager at Mawpdang village around 2:10am on Wednesday.
The attack came before the distribution of rearing and other sericulture equipment to farmers.
Sources in the district office said the fire has caused considerable damage to the building as well as the equipment meant for distribution.
The director and the joint director of Sericulture and Weaving visited Mawpdang on Wednesday morning. According to their assessment, the loss is to the tune of Rs 32 lakh.
District Sericulture Officer R.B Lyngwa, whose quarter is near the manager’s office, said she informed Additional Deputy Commissioner D. Phawa after she saw the fire.
The Fire and Emergency Service, the police and the district administration were also alerted.
The quick response of emergency services gave the district officer time to remove files and computers. Lyngwa filed an FIR at Nongpoh police station.
Earlier, incidents of petrol bomb attacks were reported from several pockets in Ri Bhoi and the tea processing unit at Umsning was also partially destroyed on June 2.
A group of farmers from Ri Bhoi engaged in sericulture condemned Wednesday’s incident and urged police to take stringent action against the culprits.
The manager’s office was constructed in 1959 on a plinth area of 136 sq meters.
