SHILLONG: East Khasi Hills police is verifying the statement of Rajiv Kumar, who claims that his shop was burnt in (Bara Bazar) on Sunday afternoon due to a petrol bomb attack.
Speaking to media persons here on Monday, East Khasi Hills SP, Davis Marak said that as per the statement of Rajiv Kumar, three to four people came to him and asked him to hand over the keys of the shop and he and his staff ran from the spot.
His informed a patrolling party in the Jeep Stand area and even police teams reached the spot to find that the shop was locked from outside and smoke was coming from inside the shop.
“Police thought it was a case of short circuit but according to the statement of Kumar, he said it was arson,” Marak said adding that as per the statement of the shopkeeper, within five minutes, the miscreants went inside the shop burnt it came out and locked the shutter and left the place.
“The incident does not seem to tally with the statement he is giving but we have recorded the statement and investigation is on to find out if it was a case of arson or something else,” Marak said.
On Monday a team of Shillong police went to the shop to collect evidence
from the spot and verify the statements of the shopkeeper.
The massive fire which broke out in Iewduh (Bara Bazar) on Sunday afternoon created panic in an otherwise sensitive area due to the ongoing situation.
Responding to a query on the overall law and order situation in the city, Marak said that the situation is under control but tense and police believes that there are undercurrents of social tension.
“We believe the situation is not fully normal and even a small incident can spark a major law and order problem and hence there is night curfew and deployment of police in many places,” Marak added.
Speaking on misuse of social media to spread rumours, Marak said police have given a public appeal to desist from believing in and spreading fake news and rumours. Police has registered some cases and investigation is on to identify those who spread rumours in social media.
