SHILLONG, July 25: A day after a strong mob pelted stones at the mini secretariat in Tura where Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma was holding a meeting with two groups, the Meghalaya Police has asserted that the violence was a planned conspiracy to cause harm to the CM.
Informing this here on Tuesday, Meghalaya DGP, Lajja Ram Bishnoi said that the meeting was about to be over when the crowd started shouting slogans after which the CM sent some NGO members to convince the crowd not to create a scene.
However, the crowd became more violent and started pelting stones at police, CM’s Secretariat, and police vehicles. Police resorted to mild baton charge, and a few tear-gas canisters were also fired.
The DGP added that the police have gathered evidence according to which money was distributed on July 23 to create violence at the side and liquor was also distributed.
Bishnoi said police have clinching evidence to prove the conspiracy angle. Police have recovered several pieces of evidence like plastic jerrycans full of kerosene, lighters, matchboxes, and stones from the place of occurrence, he said. “At the site, they started giving inciting speeches where the CM was abused and threatened. They provoked the crowd to cause physical damage to the CM and even, said they can go for the extreme step like murder etc,” the DGP further said.
Pointing out that the situation is under control now, the DGP vowed not to spare anyone who indulged in violence and tried to cause damage to government vehicles and attack Chief Minister.
The police have deployed extra forces in Tura and the IGP (Law and Order) has been stationed in Tura.
Informing that a complaint pertaining to the incident has been filed by the magistrate on duty, the DGP added that cases have been registered under the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
