SHILLONG: Police on Friday said that the clash in Sohra on Tuesday was between two groups of sordars — one appointed by the district council and Syiem and the other by people.
Police said that there were attempts to give the incident a religious colour.
They said one Tui Khongsit had filed an FIR on Tuesday that on May 27, a group of people led by some church elders vandalised and desecrated the sanctum which is known as ‘Niang Pyrhai’ when the believers of indigenous Niam Khasi were performing their annual religious ceremony at Kongthong village.
The FIR also alleged that the group of people also stopped them from performing the ceremony and that the entire incident happened in the presence of magistrates and the police. However, when contacted, the police said that there was in fact a clash between two groups of sordars.
An inquiry is being conducted into the matter and notices have been served to people involved in the incident, police officials informed.