Shillong, Jan 25: Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Tuesday stressed that the recent incidents of assault and knifing in the city are not communal even as he assured that police is on the job to nab the culprits behind the incidents.

At least three people were injured when they were attacked by miscreants at Lumdiengjri area on January 20, 2022, while four labourers were injured after they were beaten up by a group of over 25 miscreants when they were working at Dinam Hall in Jaiaw on Monday evening (January 24, 2022).

Refuting the communal angle to the incidents, Rymbui said crimes happen elsewhere as well but whenever in happens in Meghalaya, it is always painted in communal colours.

“There is no communal angle to these incidents. It is in the mind of the people. Many people try to paint each and every incident as a communal issue. So this is a very bad thing because we cannot deny the fact that incidents do not happen only here but everywhere it is happening but I don’t know only in Meghalaya whenever anything happens, we always paint it and give communal colour to it,” he said.

“Once we paint anything in communal colour, criminals will take refuge in that colour and it is like emboldening them to do anything which tries to harm the peace and tranquillity in the state,” he added.

On the incidents being politically motivated, Rymbui said all the angles and details will come out in the open once the investigation is over.

“Police are investigating the incidents. I am hopeful that within a very short span of time police will be able to nab the culprits who are trying to disturb the peace and tranquillity in and around the city,” Rymbui said.

Rymbui also shared that while a case has been registered in connection with the Lumdiengjri incident, police are yet to register a case on the Jaiaw incident.

He further stated that police is trying to solve the case with active participation of the people including examining the CCTV cameras.

He also stressed that the police is taking steps to ensure safety and security of each and every citizen while also urging the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure that such incidents are not allowed to reoccur in the near future.