Shillong: East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal has directed the police to intensify night patrolling across Shillong following a series of arson incidents, including petrol bomb attacks reported in the city.
Baranwal said the district administration recently reviewed the law and order situation with the SP office and issued necessary instructions to strengthen security.
“Necessary instructions have been issued to SP office, including increasing the frequency of patrolling, especially night patrolling,” Baranwal said.
He added that the police have been directed to approach the concerned officers immediately if additional forces are required.
The directions come amid a series of petrol bomb attacks reported in different parts of Shillong since Wednesday.
A vehicle parked inside the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) complex at Laitumkhrah reportedly caught fire after a suspected petrol bomb attack around 3.15 am on Thursday. Fire tenders were called in to douse the flames.
In another incident, a police booth on the road towards the BSF Meghalaya Frontier headquarters at Nongmynsong was reportedly set on fire in the early hours of Thursday.
A petrol bomb was also reportedly hurled at Lumdiengjri Police Station, striking the rear of the Officer-in-Charge’s room and causing minor damage to the window glass.
The Directorate of Mineral Resources office at Risa Colony was targeted on Wednesday afternoon when two petrol bombs were hurled at the premises. One struck a vehicle parked inside the office, causing partial damage. No injuries were reported in the incident.
The latest incidents follow an alleged petrol bomb attack on Laban Police Station around 2.30 am on September 12. No police personnel were injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, Baranwal said sector magistrates have been directed to maintain close coordination with community leaders in their respective sectors to ensure that suspicious activities are reported promptly and forces mobilised when required.
“If there is anything suspicious reported from anywhere, we can immediately mobilize forces and take action against the same,” he said.
The DC further said all departments and district officers have been instructed to maintain the highest levels of vigilance through chowkidars and CCTV surveillance.
The administration has also asked departments to keep office gates closed and ensure that government vehicles, which have been among the targets of arson, are parked in safe and secure locations.
Police investigations into the recent attacks are underway. The motive behind the incidents and the identity of those responsible have not yet been established.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Prestone Tynsong has directed police to strengthen security and increase patrolling in Shillong following a series of suspected petrol bomb attacks across the city.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said he had instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to take a more proactive approach and directed the concerned authorities to ensure proper installation of CCTV cameras in areas where they are required.
“That is being taken care of by the police, and I have already instructed again the DGP to be more proactive,” Tynsong said.
He added that police had also been directed to further strengthen patrolling across Shillong.
The Home Minister’s statement came amid a series of arson incidents reported in the city, including suspected petrol bomb attacks targeting government offices, police establishments and vehicles.
On Thursday, a vehicle parked inside the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) complex at Laitumkhrah reportedly caught fire following a suspected petrol bomb attack at around 3.15 am. A police booth at Nongmynsong was also reportedly set on fire in the early hours of the day.
A petrol bomb was also reportedly hurled at Lumdiengjri Police Station, causing minor damage to window glass at the rear of the officer-in-charge’s room.
The Directorate of Mineral Resources office at Risa Colony was targeted on Wednesday afternoon when two petrol bombs were reportedly hurled at the premises. One struck a vehicle parked inside the office, causing partial damage.
The incidents followed an alleged petrol bomb attack on Laban Police Station at around 2.30 am on September 12.
Asked how long the situation would continue, Tynsong said criminal activities could not be predicted but assured the public that the government would take all possible steps to address the situation.
“You can’t say for how long, because see, criminal activities happen every minute,” he said.
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“We assure the public from the government side, whatever possible we will do it, and we will not tolerate this kind of criminal activities that’s happening every day,” he added.
Tynsong also warned those involved in the attacks against continuing such activities.
“I sternly warn those criminals to stop criminalization, and the law will follow them, and justice has to be done,” he said.
Asked whether additional forces such as the Rapid Action Force (RAF), which had earlier been deployed in the city, would be called back, Tynsong said the government did not require them at present.
“For that I’m telling you, we don’t need, okay? Our own police force, as of today, it is good enough to handle the situation,” he said.
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