Shillong, Jan 30: A powerful bomb blast on Sunday evening rocked Police Bazar, the commercial hub of Shillong. Khasi militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) is suspected to be behind the blast, however, no outfit or group has so far come forward to claim the responsibility ‘officially’.
The blast took place around 6.30 pm opposite Delhi Mistan.
A resident of the area said the blast was so powerful that it shattered the glasses of vehicles parked nearby, damaged nearby shops and even destroyed a nearby wall.
The blast also caused a stampede like situation in the busy marketplace, as people fled for their lives.
Police from Sadar police station and CRPF immediately rushed to the location and cordoned off the area.
While the blast is suspected to be an IED, more details are awaited on the matter.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvester Nongtnger said that no one was injured in the incident and the matter is under investigation. He also stated that the bomb squad is on the task to determine what kind of blast it was.
CM condemns the incident
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has condemned the incident, calling it a ‘cowardly act’.
“Strongly condemn the blast at Police Bazar, Shillong this evening. An attempt to disrupt peace and bring harm is nothing but a cowardly act. Perpetrators will not be spared. We will ensure peace prevails in the State,” he tweeted.
Strongly condemn the blast at Police Bazar, Shillong this evening. An attempt to disrupt peace and bring harm is nothing but a cowardly act. Perpetrators will not be spared. We will ensure peace prevails in the State.
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) January 30, 2022
HNLC flexes muscles, caused multiple IED blasts in 2021
Last year, the proscribed HNLC had planted multiple IEDs across Khasi-Jaintia Hills, detonating two of them with one blast taking place at Laitumkhrah market.
The IED blast at Laitumkhrah market took place on August 10, 2021, with the explosive weighing 1.524 kg of high explosives gelatine, in which two people were injured.
This was followed by the outfit planting a 5kg IED at the gate of the NPP office at Lachumiere in Shillong on October 4, 2021. The outfit also warned NPP workers from canvassing for their candidates for one month, which coincided with the bye-elections to three Assembly seats in the state, slated for October 30th polling and counting on November 2.
Earlier, on July 14, 2021, the outfit triggered an IED explosion at one of the Meghalaya Police reserves at Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills District, around 1:30 am. There was no loss of life or injuries, but the explosion led to loss of property.
IED blasts by HNLC in 2020
On December 13, 2020, two persons were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion at Star Cement in East Jaintia Hills District by the outfit. HNLC said the blast was because the owner of the factory refused to pay tax.
On November 27, 2020, a low-intensity IED blast occurred at Soo Kilo under Sutnga Elaka in East Jaintia Hills (EJH) district around 3:00 am. The HNLC also claimed responsibility for this blast. General Secretary of HNLC, Saiñkupar Nongtraw said that they planted the IED at Soo Kilo as the area serves as a hotbed for outsiders to carry out illegal business activities.
