Be firm on law and order: UDP to govt

SHILLONG, May 21: Stating that lawlessness means a failed state, the UDP on Sunday said the state government and the law enforcing machinery needs to be proactive to prevent unwanted elements from making a mockery of the law.
“Hatred and violence will only add to the problems that we are confronting now as a state and society. Acts of violence and vandalism need to be contained and nipped in the bud,” UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said while talking about the assault on the two taxi drivers and the prevailing situation thereafter.
He demanded strict action against anyone trying to take the law into their hand.
“No sensible individual or group from any community, caste or creed will subscribe to any form of antagonism and violence since violence begets violence. There is no end to it,” Mawthoh said.
He urged the stakeholders to come together to contain the rising crime rate in the state.
“No one is above the law. When lawlessness prevails, it is a clear indication that we have failed as a state,” he added.
Stray incidents of assault, arson reported in city
Three days after two local cabbies were assaulted at Khyndai Lad, stray incident of arson and assault continue to be reported from parts of the city.
A source said police on Sunday arrested five persons on charges of vandalising shops and pelting stones at Police Bazar.
In addition, some persons have filed FIRs in different police stations alleging assaults and vandalism.
An FIR was lodged at Jhalupara beat house to the effect that unidentified miscreants vandalised several two-wheelers and cars parked along the road at Upper Mawprem area early Sunday morning.
In another incident, an FIR was filed that masked miscreants travelling in a white Bolero (without registration plates) set on fire three haystacks meant for cow fodder at Langkyrding Nongmensong at around 11.30 pm on Saturday.
The quick intervention of the residents and fire tenders helped douse the flames before it could spread to the adjacent houses.
The FIR filed at Nongmensong police station also claimed that stones were pelted when the fire tenders were trying to douse the flames. The complaint further stated that after the fire was doused and the residents were returning, some of them were assaulted by the same miscreants.
In the third case, a person was assaulted by a group of people inside his shop at Iewduh on Sunday leaving him with a broken nose and laceration.
The victim filed an FIR at Cantonment police station where he stated that the incident happened at around 1.30 pm on Sunday when a group of 8-10 boys came to his shop and started assaulting him without any reason and provocation.
In his FIR, the victim said he knows one of the assaulters as he moves around Bara Bazar on a regular basis.
When contacted, police said no arrests have been made in connection with the three FIRs.