SHILLONG: Two of the 13 persons arrested in connection with arson in Ri Bhoi district have secured bail but all the 20 held for similar cases in East Khasi Hills are still behind the bars.
Altogether 32 arson cases have been registered 22 of which are in East Khasi Hills.
East Khasi Hills SP Davis Marak told The Shillong Times that the arrested persons have been booked under the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (MMPO) Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act.
“The arrested persons are KSU members and some claim to be so. The arsonists were of the age group 30-40 years and would use either petrol or kerosene bomb,” said Marak.
“Nongmynsong, Polo, Lumshyiap, the Golf Link route towards Mawlai, Secretariat area where most government offices are located are identified as vulnerable areas. We have deployed any police personnel,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ri Bhoi SP Ramesh Singh told this reporter that the arrested persons, all of whom are KSU members, were booked under arson cases, criminal intimidation, destruction of public property and preventing public servant from performing their lawful duty.
Tension started after KSU members opposed the Byrnihat railway project that took a violent turn when government offices in Ri Bhoi were set afire and cases of arson reported in East Khasi Hills district as well.
