Shillong, Feb 2: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said that all people involved in the police bazar (PB) IED blast have been arrested and assured that the government will not spare whoever tries to create fear and terror in the state.
“All the people who were directly involved in the incident have been arrested including the people from whom the dynamite sticks were procured, including the people who placed it, including the people who have made it,” Sangma told reporters after chairing a cabinet meeting to review the law and order situation in the state.
Stating that investigation is ongoing, Sangma said, “We will be going into the networks even further and going into all the people who were intouch with them to make sure we dig into this deep and get hold of the people who could possibly have been a part of this or have assisted.”
According to police sources, three more persons have been arrested from Shillong and one from Ri Bhoi District.
Earlier, a juvenile, who has identified himself as the Area Commander for Shillong Region of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), had been arrested hours after the IED blast on Sunday evening.
The chief minister said the arrested people are mainly supporters and sympathizers of the banned outfit.
“The actual linkage and how much they have been involved in communication and the organization is still a matter of investigation so we are looking into those aspects as well,” he said.
He also admitted that installation of CCTVs in strategic locations have to a great extent helped the police investigation to nab the culprits.
“We have the CCTV footages on all the three of them,” he said. Sangma however said that police are still investigating to find out the next target, if any, following the recovery of live IED from the residence of the first accused.
On HNLC’s threat against traders, the chief minister said, “We have made it very clear that we are very firm on this and we will take very firm and strict action on this and all the people who are involved will be caught and that has been done. We will continue to do this to those who intend to create fear and terror will not be spared. We will do everything that is required to be done.”
