SHILLONG, May 22: The Home Department and the Meghalaya police are mum about the recent incidents of assault and arson in the city as the opposition called for strengthening the police and patrolling in the trouble-prone areas.
Incidents of arson and assault have been reported from parts of Shillong in the last few days. Police on Sunday arrested five persons on charges of vandalising shops and pelting stones in the Police Bazar area.
In another case, an FIR was lodged at Jhalupara beat house against unidentified miscreants who vandalised several two-wheelers and cars parked along the road in the Upper Mawprem area early Sunday morning.
Another FIR was filed against masked men travelling in a white Bolero (without registration plates) after they set on fire three haystacks used as cattle fodder at Langkyrding Nongmensong.
In the fourth 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.
Concerned over these incidents, opposition MLA and CLP leader Ronnie V. Lyngdoh said it is the government’s duty to ensure the safety and security of the citizens.
Pointing out that it is difficult for the government to stop such cases as it is not possible to provide security to the citizens 24X7, he said the authorities should apprehend those involved in these incidents to instil confidence in the minds of people. According to Lyngdoh, all such incidents have been happening more or less in the same place or the adjoining areas and hence there is a need to strengthen policing and patrolling in those areas.
Seeking an effort to find the root cause of these recurring incidents, he said the government can take pre-emptive measures by installing CCTV cameras, which would deter anyone from taking the law into their hands and would also help police in catching the troublemakers.
Lyngdoh said such measures should also be taken in those places where a large crowd gathers.
Officials lamented that people often do not file any complaint when such incidents happen, making their job all the more difficult.
