Ri-Bhoi police foil Assam police bid to conduct raid at USTM

NONGPOH, Feb 28: An attempt to conduct a raid and investigation at the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) was thwarted on Friday after Ri-Bhoi police refused to grant them permission to go ahead with their intended operation.
According to reports, the Assam police sought to raid USTM following the arrest of its chancellor, Mahbubul Hoque, in Sribhumi district.
When contacted, Ri-Bhoi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Vivekanand Singh Rathore confirmed that a team from the Assam police had approached the Khanapara police station, seeking assistance to conduct a raid at USTM. However, their request was denied, leading them to return to Assam.
Rathore clarified that the Ri-Bhoi Police denied them permission to ensure law and order, especially in light of the upcoming visit of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to Meghalaya on Sunday.
Furthermore, he emphasized that the Assam police lacked the necessary legal authorisation, such as a search warrant from a court, which is a prerequisite for carrying out such an operation within Meghalaya’s jurisdiction.
Hoque was arrested from his Guwahati residence in the early hours of February 22, for allegedly being involved in a network that lured students with assurance of high marks through “fraud means”, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had claimed earlier.
qRelated reports on P-5