Shillong, July 25:The number of arrested persons in connection with the July 23 Tura violence case rose to 23.
Other than the 18 persons who were arrested on Monday night, five more were arrested on Tuesday.
Besides Richard Marak of the TMC, others who were arrested on Tuesday include Thengsang Ch Momin (political affiliation yet to be known), Anurag A Sangma (ex- militant close to BJP MDC Rimpu Marak), Jackson Sangma (former NPP worker in picture) and Chianing Sangma (TMC).
26 persons identified
Earlier, speaking to reporters, the DGP LR Bishnoi said 26 persons have been identified with the help of video footage of the incident of stone pelting and arson.
The DGP said intelligence indicates that the plan of the mob was to commit murder of the chief minister by hitting him on head with a stone or bottle.
“They provoked the crowd to cause physical damage to the chief minister and even they insisted that they go for the extreme steps like murder etc. These kinds of actions of the violent youth indicated that it was pre-planned and a conspiracy to cause physical damage to the chief minister,” Bishnoi said.
“And I categorically state here that we will not spare anyone whoever is indulged in the violence and tried to attack the chief minister and cause damage to vehicles of government officials and that they will be put behind the bars very soon”,
Bishnoi said they have seized substantial numbers of the incriminating materials from the place of occurrence that indicates that the incident was pre-planned.
Money was also distributed one day ahead of the mob attack, the DGP said, adding that the seizure includes tonnes of stones from the place of occurence, 50 bamboo poles used as sticks to beat up the police personnel, 20 catapults, a jerrycan full of kerosene besides alcohol bottles and match boxes.
18 security personnel injured
As many as 18 police personnel including a home guard and CRPF were injured during the incident of mob attacking the CMO in Tura. Of these, 16 are males and 2 females.
21 vehicles damaged
While 4 vehicles were set on fire, 17 others were damaged due to the stone pelting incident. Of the 17, five vehicles belong to the CM’s carcade, one vehicle owned by Williamnagar MLA Marcuise N Marak, 1 belonging to CM’s deputy secretary, 2 from district administration, 4 from state police, 1 ambulance and 3 private vehicles.
One of the arrested BJP members, Salseng Ch Momin had contested on a UDP ticket in the last district council election from Siju constituency.
The DGP said besides extra forces, the IGP (Law and Order) , who is camping in Tura, is monitoring the situation.
Police registered a case following a complaint filed by an MCS officer.
