Newmai News Network
Shillong, July 25: Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP), Dr LR Bishnoi today said the July 24 mob attack at the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Tura in Meghalaya, was “pre-planned” and a “conspiracy” hatched to cause physical damage to chief minister Conrad K Sangma even as he vowed that all conspirators will soon be put behind bars.
As many as 19 persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in the incident.
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Another 26 persons have been identified with the help of video footage from the incident of stone pelting and arson.
According to the DGP, intelligence indicated that the plan of the mob was to attack the chief minister physically.
“They provoked the crowd to cause physical damage to the chief minister. These kinds of actions of the violent youth indicated that it was pre-planned and a conspiracy to cause physical damage to the chief minister,” Dr Bihsnoi told reporters at a news conference.
Stating that the situation is fully under control, the Meghalaya police chief said, “And I categorically state here that we will not spare anyone who is indulged in the violence and tried to attack the chief minister and cause damage to vehicles of government officials and that they will be put behind the bars very soon.”
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He informed that the police are on the hunt for the conspirators and are consistently conducting raids since last night.
When asked, Dr Bishnoi informed that they have seized substantial numbers of the incriminating materials from the place of occurrence that indicates that the whole incident was pre-planned and attempt was to attack the chief minister and cause physical harm.
Police also seized a large number of stones from the place of occurence, 50 bamboos used as sticks to beat up the police personnel, 20 catapults, a jerrycan full of kerosene besides alcohol bottles and match boxes.
At least 18 police personnel including home guards and CRPF were injured during the incident of mob attacking the CMO in Tura while the chief minister Conrad K Sangma was having a meeting with the representatives of the ACHIK, who were staging the hunger strike protest demanding implementation of a backlog policy and to declare Tura as winter capital of the state.
Meanwhile, the DGP further informed that he has deployed extra forces and has sent the IGP (Law and Order) to monitor the whole situation. A case has also been registered following a complaint filed by an officer.
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In another news, the National People’s Youth Front (NPYF) has termed the mob attack at the Meghalaya Chief Minister’s Office at Tura in Meghalaya as a criminal conspiracy to derail the peaceful discussion between Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and the representatives of the ACHIK, GHSMC and others on July 24.Vehemently condemning the incident in a statement, the NPYF said, “The chaos, and the attack at the CMO Tura, tantamount to a criminal conspiracy by these anti-social elements.”
“We strongly denounce the attack, which could have harmed the person of the CM. The action of the perpetrators is a nefarious design of these hooligans, who had come to the venue with a preconceived plan to disturb the peace.”
The statement said that the demand for a winter capital in Tura is a legitimate concern of the people of Garo Hills, and it deserves a constructive political dialogue involving all stakeholders.
“It is disheartening to witness the cowardly acts of certain anti-social groups, who, without any genuine concern for the Garos, had resorted to pelting stones at the CMO Tura during the meeting. Such actions reflect a complete disregard for the welfare of the community and undermine the efforts to find a resolution through peaceful means.”
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The statement said that the Chief Minister had agreed to meet the groups near the hunger strike venue, where the groups were agitating, and this shows that the CM was genuinely concerned.
Further, the NPYF said that an ambulance carrying police personnel or any emergency services should never be subjected to attacks, as they are essential for preserving life and providing aid to those in need.
However, these hooligans did not even spare an ambulance, which we firmly believe was a dastardly act of anti-socials, who only wanted to perpetuate the conflict and law and order problem.
“While we strongly condemn the action of these hooligans, we reiterate that NPYF supports any form of peaceful demonstration for the greater cause of the society in alignment with the principles of the right to protest. We acknowledge the intervention and development initiatives taken by the CM for the progress and development of the State,” it said.
Meanwhile, the NPYF also said that in the last five years, the government had initiated a number of welfare and development projects for the overall growth of the state, whcih is a commitment of this government under the able and dynamic leadership of the CM.
While seeking strong action against the hooligans, the NPYF also urged the citizens to remain calm and allow the law enforcement agencies to work and cooperate in whatever possible ways to arrest the wrongdoers.
“As peace-loving and law-abiding citizens, let us all come together to demonstrate to the world that the people of Tura and Garo Hills in no way accept violent means of protest. Let us all come together to extend our support to the government in restoring peace and normalcy,”it concluded.
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