Five held in Guwahati over assault on cabbies

SHILLONG, May 19: A day after the assault on two local taxi drivers here, the state police arrested five persons in Guwahati on Friday with the help of the police personnel there.
This was informed by East Khasi Hills SP Sylvester Nongtnger, who said that one Iohborlang Kharsohnoh (27) of Jongksha and Banshai Syiem (25) of Laitkor were assaulted at Police Bazar point by a group of miscreants.
Both the victims sustained injuries and were taken to Civil Hospital Shillong for treatment.
Consequent to the assault incident, Police Bazar on Friday witnessed some disturbance as shops closed early and people were seen rushing for their homes fearing unrest. A large group of local cabbies were meanwhile seen stopping other local taxi drivers from plying while also asking passengers to disembark from the vehicle. In the evening, the group of taxi drivers met the SP and they were informed about the arrests.
The president of East Khasi Hills Local Taxi Welfare Association Wandonbok Jyrwa said that the incident on Thursday night was an attempt to murder, but he however was glad that the miscreants have been arrested.
Following the arrest, the cabbies called off their strike and decided that the taxis will ply normally from Saturday. Earlier in the morning, the cabbies punctured the tyres of police vehicles at Sadar Police station.