Shillong, Aug 3: Two petrol bombs were hurled at the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) office, on Monday afernoon.
According to the police, two masked men on scooters hurled petrol bombs targetting two spots inside the premises.
The incident occurred between 12 pm and 12:30 pm.
Pollution control board lodged an FIR at the Laitumkhrah police station.
Police and the forensic team have visited the site.
SP (City) Dangsan Khyriem said after the incident, the forensic team has collected samples.
When asked whether the incident was connected to protests against the Shree Cement plant, Khyriem said it was too early to say.
“I do not know. That is part of the investigation,” he said.
Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board Member Secretary GH Chyrmang on Monday said she was informed about the incident while he was on his way to Byrnihat for an inspection.
“While I was on my way for an inspection to Byrnihat, I received a call from the office that there was a very unfortunate incident — that unknown miscreants had hurled petrol bombs at a few places,” he said.
Chyrmang said he immediately returned to the office.
Some staff members had seen the attackers first-hand but could not identify them as their faces were covered.
“CCTV footage shows that there were two people, but their faces were covered. We have already filed a complaint at the Laitumkhrah police station,” he said.
Two suspects arrived on separate scooters and two of them entered the office premises.
“According to sources, those people came on two scooters. Two people entered the office. I cannot say anything further as the investigation is still ongoing. We have no enmity with anyone, so I don’t know if there is any connection,” Chyrmang said.
No one was injured in the attack.
“One petrol bomb was hurled near the chamber of the Senior Scientific Assistant — thankfully he escaped unhurt,” he added
The Member Secretary questioned the motive behind targeting the pollution board office.
“Why target our office? We are just employees who are doing our work quietly, we have done nothing wrong,” he said.
