Shillong, Oct 31: One person has been arrested while several others have been identified as the miscreants who were involved in the violent attack on innocent people during the Friday’s rally over unemployment even as Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has assured stern action against them.

Sangma told reporters that he had immediately convened a meeting and reviewed the entire law and order situation in the state.

He informed that already one person has been arrested and three FIRs have been lodged in connection with Friday’s violence.

“Large numbers of people – I don’t want to give numbers – have been identified, who were the main miscreants, who have attacked innocent people and necessary action is going to be taken against them,” Sangma assured.

Stating that three people were injured during the incident, he said they were given the necessary treatment but the injuries were not of serious nature.

He further informed that there were about two-three vehicles mostly autos and scooters and one Army Gypsy which were slightly damaged but apart from that there was no major damage to any personal vehicle or any kind of assets of the government.

Further, the chief minister said the meeting also discussed the necessary standard of operations (SOPs) to prevent such incidents in the future.

“We have reviewed the entire situation and we have instructed the police to take necessary action. Also for future situation, the necessary arrangements and necessary SOPs and all the necessary arrangements that need to be made in the future – those areas were also discussed in detail,” he added.

Held a meeting with @DC_EKH and @MeghalayaPolice to review the law & order situation. pic.twitter.com/jyVnTQfsIP

— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) October 31, 2022

When asked, Sangma said that one cannot just come to a conclusion and give the situation a tag name of failure of intelligence.

According to him, certain things came out completely as a surprise to everybody.

“In this entire incident that happened there were few selected people who were identified and therefore it could be clearly seen that out of the 1500 plus people who were there, there were very few selected who resorted to this kind of violent activity and hence, this was something which completely came as a surprise…,” he said.

The chief minister said when permissions are being given for holding such programmes, the organizers are expected to follow the process and take a certain level of responsibility.

“However, incidents like these, as I said, we cannot cover every aspect… we have seen these kinds of situations are something that will require the government to be more stringent in the future and we will have to take much more steps to even look at the most impossible situation also and need to be prepared for every kind of situation in the future,” he further asserted.

Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills district administration has issued show cause notice to the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) for alleged violation of the conditions for holding the rally on October 28, 2022.