States »EasPosted at: Aug 16 2021 2:56PM

Shillong remains calm, Curfew on, mobile internet service suspended

Shillong, Aug 16 (UNI) Meghalaya capital Shillong remained peaceful a day after violent protests against the death of a surrendered Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) militant leader in police firing.
“The situation was calm, but we are on alert. There has been no report of any untoward incident during the morning hours, except last night,” East Khasi Hills District Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo told UNI.
Police had raided Thangkhiew’s house in the early hours of Friday in Mawlai Kynton Massar based on “credible information” on his alleged involvement in an IED blast at Khliehriat Police Reserve and Laitumkhrah market that injured two persons.
Police officials had said that the surrendered HNLC militant leader had attacked the police team with a knife as an attempt to escape, in the wake of which a single round was fired “exerting the right to private defence”.
However, Thangkhiew’s family members termed the killing as “cold-blooded murder”, even as pressure groups accused the police of conducting a “fake encounter”.
On Sunday night, unidentified miscreants lobbed two petrol bombs at the private residence of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma late on Sunday night.
The Chief Minister and his family members are staying in the official residence. No one was injured in the attack.
Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills district, Sylvester Nongtnger said police have registered a case and investigations are on.
Curfew was clamped in Shillong agglomeration and its suburbs on Sunday from 8 PM on Sunday till 5 AM of August 17 or until further order.
While mobile internet/data services were temporarily suspended for the next 48 hours effective from 6 PM on Sunday in four districts of East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi.
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