By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 6: In a brazen challenge to the state’s security apparatus, coordinated arson attacks rocked four different localities of Shillong in the early hours of Saturday, targeting police, health service, and private vehicles in what appears to be a calculated attempt to disrupt the city’s fragile peace.
The synchronised strikes, occurring around 3 am, spanned the capital from the high-security zone of Kench’s Trace to residential pockets in Mawlai and Nongmensong. The timing and spread of the fires suggest a planned operation by a coordinated group.
In a direct strike on law enforcement, a police Thar (ML-02-5516) parked at the Kench’s Trace Beat House was set on fire. While the blaze was doused, the vehicle’s hood and seats were charred. Simultaneously, in Lumdiengjri near Synod College, a Health Department Innova (ML-05W-3399) was targeted and sustained significant fire damage
The arsonists also struck Mawlai Phudmuri, where a Maruti SX4 (ML-05F-6060) belonging to the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) was set ablaze by the roadside, gutting the vehicle’s interior. In Nongmensong’s Dongkamon area, a tourist taxi—a vital source of local livelihood—was set on fire, damaging the front of the vehicle.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem confirmed the incidents, stating that the police suspect the attacks are linked due to their near-simultaneous execution across the city.
“Cases are being registered to investigate and nab the culprits,” Syiem said. Security measures are expected to be tightened as authorities probe the motive behind the sudden flare-up.
