Meghalaya Police Confirms CM Conrad Sangma’s Claim That Shillong Unrest Was ‘Sponsored’ Through Cash-funding

Though there have been reports of fresh clashes, night curfew is still in force in the entire city as a precautionary measure, senior district officials said.

Edited By: Shubhangi Gupta

Published: June 20, 2018, 10:53 PM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/india/meghalaya-police-confirms-cm-conrad-sangmas-claim-that-shillong-unrest-was-sponsored-through-cash-funding-3122081/ Copy

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma

Meghalaya, June 20: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s claim that Shillong unrest was “sponsored” has now been confirmed by Meghalaya police. Reportedly, the police have also identified few people being held responsible for inciting the protest. The Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma claimed that the protests were “sponsored” through cash-funding and alcohol supply to the agitators after the May 31 incident.

The instigators have been identified on the basis of a probe and also on statements of the people arrested for being involved in clashes in the hill town, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Davis Marak told PTI. He further added that investigation was on and show-cause notices would be issued to the identified instigators.

The picturesque town of Shillong also called “Scotland of the East” was rattled by violent protests for five days in early June after an assault of a bus handyman and two others at local Punjabi Lane on May 31, leading to an imposition of indefinite curfew and shutdown of the internet. The clashes between local Khasis and Sikhs were fuelled by fake news of the bus handyman’s death over social media.

The Army and para-military forces had to be deployed to control the violence which had badly affected tourism in Meghalaya. “We have been able to identify some of the instigators behind the June first week agitation,” the SP told PTI. Over 70 stone-pelters were arrested, 20 of whom were released later on bail with strict direction to cooperate with the police in the investigation, the SP said.

The SP said more protesters are likely to be arrested in due course of time based on video evidence of their participation in the attack on the police. The protesters have been booked under various sections of the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order (MMPO) Act among others for which they will have to compensate for the losses of both public and private properties.

Though there have been reports of fresh clashes, night curfew is still in force in the entire city as a precautionary measure, senior district officials said.

(With agency inputs)