SHILLONG, Feb 10: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Frederick Roy Kharkongor on Friday refuted reports which alleged that TMC workers were responsible for Tuesday’s clash in Phulbari. He made it clear that he would not be able to reveal who was actually responsible for the violence involving TMC and NPP workers at Charbatapara village under Phulbari constituency in West Garo Hills District.
“We have rounded up perpetrators in equal numbers from both sides. I will not be able say who is responsible for the act of violence until an investigation report is submitted to me,” Kharkongor said.
He further said that 31 people have been arrested so far and around 125 of the possible perpetrators have been booked under Section 107 of the CrPC. “The situation is under control and no fresh incident has been reported from that area,” the CEO said.
Stating that the elections in Meghalaya have always been peaceful, Kharkongor hoped that the violence in Phulbari was just an abrasion and would not affect the smooth conduct of polls in the state.