By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 29: Police have identified three individuals involved in the arson attack that destroyed three vehicles in Dong Umkor, Pynursla, in the early hours of Sunday.
Summonses have been issued to the accused, requiring them to appear for questioning.
According to police sources, the incident stemmed from a late-night altercation involving the driver of a Maruti Swift and two intoxicated men returning from a local fete in the village.
During the scuffle, one of the men allegedly strangulated the Swift driver on the neck. In retaliation, the driver bit the man’s hand, drawing blood.
The two men then reportedly left the scene and gathered friends from near the fete venue.
When they returned with a larger group, the Swift driver fled on foot into nearby forested areas to avoid further confrontation, abandoning his vehicle.
Unable to locate the driver, the group allegedly set the Swift on fire in retaliation. The flames quickly spread to two nearby parked vehicles—a Mahindra Scorpio and a Datsun redi-GO—completely gutting all three.
A circulating video reportedly shows bloodstains inside the Swift prior to the blaze, though unverified claims of one accused writing the driver’s name in blood on the vehicle could not be confirmed.
Police registered a case after receiving FIRs from the vehicle owners on Sunday morning.
The Swift’s owner, accompanied by family members, identified some suspects in his complaint. Police investigation is ongoing.
Reacting to the incident, Rangbah Dong of Umkor, A. Khongsni, described it as unfortunate and damaging to the village’s reputation. He noted that those involved were outsiders and was not present at the scene.
Khongsni urged authorities to enforce stricter guidelines for issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for late-night fetes, including rigid time restrictions, to prevent such incidents in the future.
