‘Battle-hardened’ police in state struggle to maintain law & order

SHILLONG, Nov 26: The Meghalaya Police, which effectively handled the insurgents for years, are now struggling to deal with the miscreants in Shillong.
The city witnessed some violent incidents in broad daylight over the past few days during which the miscreants targeted police personnel and civilians but the men in khaki did not react. The police are believed to be exercising restraint
In a viral video, a lone policeman inside the Shillong Civil Hospital was seen being beaten up by the masked miscreants while a meeting of some pressure groups was on outside the hospital the other day.
The assailants pounced upon him and landed blows and kicks.
Around the same time, the miscreants also attacked three women police constables on the hospital premises. They sustained minor injuries. Such an attack is unprecedented in the state.
In another incident, a petrol bomb was lobbed at a group of police personnel deployed at the Barik Point area.
Recently, Director General of Police Dr LR Bishnoi had said the police were exercising restraint as emotions are running high.
Two days ago, the miscreants had attacked an inspector of Customs and Central Excise, leaving him grievously injured. The incident had occurred at the IGP point. The victim, Alok Kumar, was in Shillong to undergo training.
In 2018, during the clash over Harijan Colony issue, many police personnel were injured. Even then, the police had exercised restraint. They did not react also during the recent rally taken out by the Federation of Khasi Jaintia Garo People which turned violent.