SHILLONG, March 14: Meghalaya experienced seven improvised explosive device (IED) blasts in the last five years. These included the one on February 18, 2018, at Sawilgre village in the East Garo Hills district’s Samanda, in which Nationalist Congress Party candidate Jonathone N. Sangma and two others were killed.
The incident happened nine days before the Assembly elections that year.
Replying to a query from West Shillong MLA Mohendro Rapsang, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said that the last of such blasts was on January 30, 2022, at the entrance step of the new extension building of Centre Point Estate at Khyndailad.
The first blast occurred at Dawki on February 1, 2018. The next three were in the East Jaintia Hills district – on November 26, 2020, at Soo Kilo Market; on December 12, 2020, at Campus Krishna Colony Lane, Lumshnong; and on July 14, 2021, at Police Reserve residential quarters, Khliehriat. The one at the Laitumkhrah main market followed on August 10, 2021.
He said people were arrested for each of these blasts but details “cannot be divulged” as a judicial commission is looking into the cases. He also declined to say if some of those caught were juveniles. Rapsang further asked about the measures taken by the state government to offset such blasts for maintaining peace and tranquillity. “Intelligence gathering, cybercrime unit and the police stations have been strengthened,” Rymbui replied.
Informing the House that the Centre has given the go-ahead for peace talks with the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, the home minister said the government was hopeful of a positive outcome.
Joining in, East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh reminded the government that the people who suffered damages due to the Laitumkhrah market blast in 2021 were still awaiting compensation.
Gambegre MLA Saleng Sangma said no one took responsibility for the blast at Sawilgre village and urged the government to take the help of the National Investigation Agency or the Central Bureau of Investigation to look into the five-year-old incident.
In his reply, the Home Minister said, “Police had registered a case under various sections of IPC and they also conducted the investigation but the case is lying with some commission of inquiry. I don’t want to go into the details of the case.”
Williamnagar MLA, Marcuise Marak supported Saleng and demanded a probe by the NIA.