SHILLONG: In an alleged case of pre-poll violence, Kynpham N. Syiem, the elder brother of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pynshngain N Syiem, was stabbed by assailants on Wednesday night around 10:30 pm at Dangar, a border area in Mawsynram constituency.
A case has been registered under Section 307 of IPC (attempt to murder), Section 326 of IPC (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and Section 34 IPC (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
According to the police, three persons were behind the attack. Meghalaya police website named Kyllang Thongni as the one who stabbed Syiem with a sharp weapon. However, the relatives of Kynpham N. Syiem claimed that two persons were involved.
Kynpham received injuries on his face and his abdomen. “There are internal injuries,” he added.
He was admitted in the ICU but later taken to OT of Woodland Hospital.
Blame on Congress
Kynpham spoke to reporters at Woodland Hospital on Thursday and named the attackers as Pusterwell Disiar and Kyllang Thongni who he alleged are supporters of the Congress.
Narrating the incident, Syiem said Kynpham was attacked while he was coming from the border areas and met the assailants half way who were waiting for him in a vehicle.
“It was planned as they already had weapons with them. He got down from the vehicle to talk to them and asked his accomplices to remain in the vehicle. Seeing him getting down from the vehicle, they did not say word but took out sharp weapons to attack him,” he said.
Reacting sharply to zthis dastardly attack, People’s Democratic Front (PDF) leader PN Syiem also alleged that the panicked Congress supporters were behind the attack on his elder brother.
“My brother is popular in the border area and the Congress in the fear of losing the polls is trying to unleash terror in the area,” Syiem said.
According to Syiem, the attack surprised him as the area was all along peaceful even as he wanted the police to take action against the people involved. Syiem who was suspended from the Congress party for his open criticism against Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and the Congress-led government joined PDF in December.
Later, the Congress projected former bureaucrat H M Shangpliang as the candidate of the party.
When contacted, Shangpliang said he was informed that the matter was related to personal vendetta and a similar incident had happened between the victim and the accused in December when two of them fought.
“There is no political angle to it, and the incident has nothing to do with politics,” he said.
Kynpham said an FIR has been filed by the family members and village Dorbar of Dangar has also done the same at the Dangar Police Outpost.
Expressing confidence on the law, he said, “On our part, we will not seek revenge and we have cautioned our supporters to not resort to any violence.”
The family has condemned the attackers. “If they want anything, they should have spoken and not to resort to any violence. We came to know that they are Congress supporters,” KN Syiem said.
Hitting out at the alleged poll rivalry, KN Syiem went on to add, “Let politics be politics. We have our free will to support whichever party we want to.”
It may be mentioned that PN Syiem is contesting from PDF. He was suspended from the Congress for alleged anti-party activities.
On the other hand, KN Syiem further informed that Kyllang Thongni was also involved in the murder of a driver of then Governor at Polo market during the 90s.
PDF president, Ivan Marbaniang has condemned the attack on brother of PDF chairman, Pynshngain Syiem and wished for his speedy recovery.
Second attempt on Kynpham
Kynpham said it was on December 26, 2017 that the same attackers made a first failed attempt to attack him by making rile comments on the porch of his house.
When he came out of the house, they attacked him with rods but he was able to dodge their attack. However no FIR was filed.
Meanwhile, SP (city) Spill Thamar said that Syiem who was with five others were attacked by a group of persons near St Peter’s Convent with sharp weapons.
He was first referred to Dangar PHC and from there to Shillong Civil Hospital for further treatment. “He was later referred to Woodland Hospital in city where his condition remains critical,” Thamar said.
He said three names had figured as the accused and they are absconding. “We had conducted raid and search was also carried out. A direction was issued to Officer in Charge of Mawsynram for arresting the accused and a case was registered,” he added. The official said all angles will be probed related to the incident.
‘No official plaint’
Asked on this incident, Chief Electoral Officer Frederick R. Kharkongor said that no official complaint has been received so far but the police have informed the state election commission.
“Police are taking cognizance of this and they are beefing up security to prevent those kinds of incidents from happening. So the police are on the job. We would like to see that such kind of incidents do not happen which may vitiate the poll atmosphere,” he said.
He said it is yet to be ascertained whether the motive of this attack was personal enmity or due to poll rivalry.
