
Shillong, July 7: Brawl by drunk individuals over passage of their vehicles on Friday wee hours near the road leading to the directorate of health services in Laitumkrah in the city turned violent resulting in torching of police vehicles by an angry mob.
Atleast three vehicles, including a police Gypsy (in picture) were damaged in the incident.
There was also an attempt to snatch away the rifle from a CRPF man who was on sentry duty.
The SP (city) Vivek Syiem told reporters that the quarrel started over the passage of vehicles after 12 am on Friday.
This led to two groups of people taking different views on filing of FIRs.
“What triggered is a result of drunken brawl”, Syiem added.
Initially, while one group wanted to file FIR, another group tried to prevent them from lodging the complaint .
Syiem denied reports that police refused to accept the FIRs.
The police are yet to make any arrests in this regard but the official asserted that stern action will be taken against the law breakers.
Though one group was non-indigenous, police ruled out any communal angle into the incident.
The local MLA and cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh told reporters that there is nothing communal about the incident as it was a case of intoxication which went out of control.
“There was a gathering of more people. There was a sentry who was attacked, and the weapon was about to be snatched from theĀ CRPF man ..when you violate the law ,you have to be taken into task”, she said.
Ampareen said young people often want to hang out but if this goes out of control, the law should take its course.
“We have made it clear to the police that no one is above the law . Violators should be taken into task.Fortunately the area is under CCTV surveillance, she added.
VPP condemns incidentĀ
VPP East Shillong has condemned the destruction of public property in Laitumkhrah police station.
Speaking to the media persons, Avner Pariat, who contested on a VPP ticket from East Shillong, said that people must not take the law into their own hands.”Tensions flare up but to destroy public assets without rhyme or reason cannot be tolerated”, he said.
Pariat asked the police to find out the truth behind the incident at DHS and also said that these types of unruly disturbances have become the norm which cannot be tolerated. “Laitumkhrah is not a place to come and get drunk and cause problems. If they don’t do such things at home, why commit nuisance here?”, he asked.