Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP) Dr LR Bishnoi on Monday said the mob attack at the CMO, Tura was a conspiracy to cause physical damage to the chief minister Conrad K Sangma.
Addressing media persons, Bishnoi said that intelligence indicates that the plan of the mob was to commit murder of chief minister by hitting him on head with a stone or bottle.
“They provoked the crowd to cause physical damage to the chief minister and even they insisted that they go for the extreme steps like murder etc. 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.”
Stating that the situation is fully under control, the state police chief said, “And I categorically state here that we will not spare anyone whoever 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.”
He informed that the police are on the hunt for the conspirators and are consistently conducting raids since last night.
Bishnoi also 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 damage to him.
Money was also distributed one day ahead of the mob attack.
Police also seized tonnes 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.
Of these, 16 are males and 2 females.
As many as 4 vehicles have been set on fire while 17 others were damaged due to the stone pelting incident. Of the 17, five vehicles belong to the CM’s carcade, one vehicle owned by Williamnagar MLA Marcuise N Marak, 1 belonging to CM’s deputy secretary, 2 district administration, 4 state police, 1 ambulance and 3 private vehicles.
The DGP said that the police had maintained restraints for a couple of hours. “Even knowing that the mob are causing huge damage to our vehicles, police did not decide to go for firing to avoid the casualty of other peaceful youth, who were there and taking part in the agitations,” he added.
Dr Bishnoi said that after conducting a massive search, police have arrested 19 accused persons, who were identified from video footage. “We have also identified another 26 persons, who were also involved in the incident,” he added.
Of the 19 arrested, two are members of the BJP mahila morcha – Bellina M Marak (32) and Dilche Ch Marak (40).
The other members of the BJP include Bartho Ch Sangma (19), Salseng Ch Momin (28), Brendip R Marak (34), Akanrik M Sangma (21), Khuswant M Sangma (33), Bellina M Marak (32) and Dilche Ch Marak (40).
Salseng was also a UDP candidate in the last MDC election from Siju constituency.
The TMC members, who were arrested are – Bregrimseng S Marak (19), Pangchu R Sangma (18), Kimkim K Sangma (32), Lastbirth M Marak (23), Sangra R Marak (32), Greatster N Marak (27), Tengchang D Sangma (20), Tengma Ch Marak (28), Jaseng Ch Marak (40), Gamchu R Sangma (20), Kebin Ch Marak (28).
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 MCS officer.