Shillong, Jan 31: Meghalaya Police have arrested two people in connection with the IED blast at Police Bazar on Sunday evening. The first person arrested is a juvenile, who then led to the arrest of his associate. Interestingly, the juvenile claimed himself to be the Area Commander of Shillong Region of the Khasi militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui informed that a juvenile was apprehended and detained for interrogation on Sunday evening. He, later, led the police to another live bomb at his residence at Demthring, which was immediately defused and additional IED materials recovered.
“Through his confession, another live bomb was recovered and defused by the bomb squad of the police department (at Demthring area),” Rymbui said while adding that another accused person, who hails from Nongstoin, was also arrested.
“I am very hopeful that the police will be able to break the nexus and nab all those responsible for this cowardly act,” he said.
He also added that a crude IED was used for the blast at Police Bazar on Sunday evening at around 6.40 pm.
Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtnger in a statement said after a few hours of the incident, based on reliable source information, one person was apprehended and detained for necessary interrogation.
“During the course of enquiry, he admitted his involvement and claimed himself to be the Area Commander of Shillong Region of the banned outfit- Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC),” he said.
“On his leading, a crude IED was recovered from the residence of his relatives which was safely defused and duly seized in the presence of independent witnesses,” Nongtnger added.
The SP further informed that a case was registered vide Shillong Sadar P.S Case No. 27(01)2022 U/S 120 (B)/427 IPC R/W Sec. 5 Explosive Substances Act and the investigation is in progress.
Home Minister lauds police action
The Home Minister also rejected the allegation that it was an intelligence failure on the part of the police, instead he lauded the police for quick reaction.
He said, “If there was an intelligence failure, the police would not have been able to nab the culprit within a few hours after the incident…police intelligence are alert and many people are under the radar where if anything happens we could track (them).”
Giving full credit to the police for taking swift action, Rymbui said, “I hope this will be a benchmark where the police will do more in their investigation taking into consideration the new age crime.”
“In this case, I am very happy that the general public are sharing information and are cooperating. That is why the police are able to move at a faster pace than in any investigation,” he said while urging the citizens to continue to lend their support and cooperation in fighting such crimes.
