Curfew Imposed in Shillong: Home Minister Resigns: Internet Services Banned: Attack on CMs Residence
Curfew has been imposed for 33 hours in Shillong and its outskirts, internet services were banned in four districts of Meghalaya after violence broke out in the city on Sunday.
The city witnessed protestors who took out protest marches with black flags in Shillong on Sunday, accused the police of “killing in the name of an encounter” militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council’s (HNLC) former General Secretary Chesterfield Thangkhiew early on Friday.
The “encounter” of the former HNLC came just three days after the HNLC triggered an IED blast at the commercial hub at Laitumkhrah injuring two persons and damaging nearby buildings.
Reports of mob pelting stones on security forces and also set ablaze a police vehicle belonging to the Mawkynroh Police Outpost at Jaiaw on Sunday afternoon. Police personnel, on the vehicle including the officer-in-charge of Mawkynroh Outpost, managed to escape.
A large crowd gathered at the residence of the slain HNLC ex-leader at Mawlai area of Shillong on Sunday afternoon, while many people were seen standing on the terrace and top floors of their houses holding placards in solidarity. Motorcycle and other vehicle-borne protestors also went to various parts of the city and its outskirts.
To take control of the situation East Khasi Hills District Magistrate Isawanda Laloo, ordering total curfew in Shillong and 13 other nearby areas from 8 p.m. on Sunday to Tuesday morning, said that as per information received there have been incidents of stone-pelting, arson, theft, and a serious breakdown of law and order in parts of Shillong city.
Further, State Home Secretary C.V.D Diengdoh, ordered to suspend the internet service in the four districts of Meghalaya. The Internet service was banned from 6 pm yesterday for 48 hours.
“To prevent the misuse of the messaging system including SMS, WhatsApp and other social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to disturb peace and tranquility in Meghalaya and for maintaining law and order, the telecommunication services were suspended,” Diengdoh said in his order.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s Residence attacked
The situation further worsens as unknown miscreants hurled petrol bomb in Chief Ministers Residence at Third Mile on Sunday night.
According to the police, two Molotov cocktail bottles were hurled at around 10.15 pm by vehicle-borne attackers at the premises of Sangma’s residence.
The first bottle was lobbed at the front side of the CM’s residence while the other one was thrown behind the backyard. However, no one was injured in the incident.
The Home Minister of Meghalaya Lahkmen Rymbui Resigns
The Meghalaya Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui resigned from his post on Sunday after the killing of a surrendered militant of a banned insurgent group by the police, PTI reported.
Rymbui’s decision came hours after mob violence and arson on Independence Day forced the district magistrate of East Khasi Hills to impose a curfew in the Shillong Agglomeration area, which includes the state capital and adjoining regions.
In a letter to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Rymbui urged him to initiate a judicial inquiry into the incident.
“I hereby express shock to the incident where Chesterfield Thangkhiew was killed following the raid of police at his residence exceeding the lawful tenets of the law,” Rymbui wrote.
