SHILLONG: The city on Friday witnessed bouts of violence in several localities, including Punjabi Lane, even as the government held an emergency meeting in the morning to review law and order that did not show any improvement.
One person from Punjabi Lane was arrested on Friday based on a criminal case that was registered at Sadar police station in connection with the assault of three boys on Thursday morning that flared up later in the evening. Police, however, have not divulged his name.
Search is on for others involved in the crime.
A statement from the Political Department said a magisterial inquiry has also been ordered to probe the incident as well as identify those who were spreading rumours.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma met his Cabinet colleagues, additional chief secretary of Home, senior police officers and the East Khasi Hills Deputy commissioner in the morning.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Home Minister James Sangma said the government has told the DC to call a meeting of senior citizens, NGOs and other leaders to find a way to resolve the issue.
In the evening, a shop, a house and a scooter were burnt at Punjabi Lane when a group of miscreants threw a petrol bomb. A tree near the compound was also burnt.
Many residents of Punjabi Lane had to take shelter in the nearby gurudwara while scores of others moved to the garrison Ground in the city where they were provided with food ans shelter for the night by Army personnel.
On Thursday night, at least five vehicles were torched by petrol bomb attackers.
In a fresh incident of attack by an angry mob at Motphran on Friday night, SP (City) Stephan Rynjah sustained injuries on his back and hand after he was hit by a rod. He was taken to Shillong civil hospital.
Mobile internet services were suspended in the city for 24 hours to prevent rumours on social media.
Police said irate mob gathered at Motphran since 8pm on Thursday after rumour about the death of a person was circulated on social media.
While appealing for peace, the home minister urged the public not to pay heed to false reports being circulated on social media.
“I want to assure that the government works towards restoring normalcy and peace,” he said.
The flare-up was a result of an incident that took place at 10 am on the same day where an SPTS bus conductor and three boys were assaulted by residents of Punjabi Lane.
Around 9.15 pm on Thursday, the situation turned volatile when 250-300 people went to Punjabi Lane and started pelting stones at police personnel deployed there.
The authorities clamped curfew from 4 am in localities under Lumdiengjri police station and Cantonment Beat House.
The localities under curfew on Friday were Jaiaw, Mawkhar, Umsohsun, Riatsamthiah, Wahingdoh, Mission Compound, Mawprem, Lumdiengjri, Lama Villa, Qualapatty, Wahthapbru, Sunny Hill, Cantonment, Mawlong Hat (excluding localities beyond Umshyrpi bridge).
Though there was no curfew in Police Bazar area, no shops were opened and the roads wore a deserted look. Bara Bazar also witnessed similar situation.
The sound of firing of teargas by police filled the air throughout the day and night. Several residents mistook it as firing by police personnel.
East Khasi Hills SP Davis Marak said there are two versions of the incident – according to the residents of Punjabi Lane, the bus conductor and others were beaten up after they teased women in the locality near the petrol pump there.
Another version was that a group of women who brought some youths from the area assaulted the conductors and others without any provocation.
Marak said there is a CCTV camera at the petrol pump point and the footage will be examined.
Earlier on Thursday night, four youths were arrested for throwing stone at police personnel.
When asked if there was a political conspiracy behind the flare-up, James said he would not like to speculate anything on this.
When asked why there were less police on the ground on Thursday, he said the government “is resolving this issue and trying to put adequate police force on the ground”.
Common man worst sufferers
Small-time traders and tourists were the worst sufferers of the violence that erupted suddenly and took many by surprise.
Shops at Iewduh and Police Bazar remained closed as stone pelting and clashes between agitators and police continued on Friday.
Several shops in Laitumkhrah and Laban also downed the shutters though they were not curfew affected areas. In the morning, few shops opened in Police Bazar but by afternoon the entire area, including GS Road, was deserted.
With a few vehicles on roads, vegetable vendors and other traders who come from rural areas to the city were stranded. Many schools in the city were also closed.
Some private offices asked employees to leave early.
Even the Secretariat wore a deserted look late in the afternoon.
Vehicles set on fire
Around 12.30 am on Thursday night, a Maruti Swift D’zire with Assam registration was set on fire at Pynthorbah Block-I.
Around 1 am, 108 Emergency Service received information that another vehicle belonging to Rajinder Kaur Deedan was partially burnt by miscreants at RR Colony, Rynjah.
Around 3.30am, a truck belonging to M/s Vishal Roadways Company was torched at Umsohsun.
Miscreants burnt tyres on Nonbah bridge and Nondein in Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills.