SHILLONG: Jowai police has said that the situation is peaceful and under control in the area after tension prevailed in Jowai on Monday morning when a taxi driver was assaulted for not abiding by the ‘no smoking’ directive inside a mobile shop
West Jaintia Hills SP, Vivej Syiem said that there was no untoward incident and police were securing the area
He also said that the people had been exhorted to report any incident before the police and nobody should be allowed to take law into their hands
He also any incident should be handed by the law appropriately
Jaintia Hills police soon after the incident took swift action and arrested Dharmendra Kumar Shah of the New Starlight Mobile Shop
The incident happened after Dharmendra Kumar Shah (23) had asked driver Talbinus Dhar (24) not to smoke inside the shop. But Dhar challenged him and a scuffle took place in which Dhar sustained injuries. He was shifted to Jowai Civil Hospital
Immediately after the news of the assault spread, a mob started gathering in front of the shop and also in some areas of Iawmusiang.
A group of 50/60 people gathered in front of Jowai police station and shouted slogans against non-tribals.
This prompted the district magistrate to promulgate Section 144 CrPC.