Shillong: The Meghalaya capital remained tense on Saturday, with stone-pelters continuously attacking police personnel in curfew-bound areas on the third day of violence.
The army carried out a flag march in the troubled areas.
The defence public relations officer on Saturday said that the march was taken out under the command and control of Lt Gen. D.S. Ahuja, general-officer-commanding, 101 area. “Over 100 fully-armed troops and eight vehicles were deployed during the flag march to help bring the situation under control. No more flag marches have been planned by the army,” the statement said.
Several families from the affected locality were given shelter in the army cantonment. The GOC visited them at the cantonment, adds PTI.
Normal life was affected as curfew continued in areas under Lumdiengjri police station and Cantonment Beat House.
Section 144 CrPC was promulgated prohibiting sale of petrol and diesel in bottles and other containers by all petrol pumps in the wake of petrol bomb attacks by goons in the city. The order will remain in force until further notice.
The areas under curfew include the whole of Jaïaw, Mawkhar, Umsohsun, Riatsamthiah, Wahingdoh, Mission, Mawprem, Lumdiengjri, Lamavilla, Qualapatty, Wahthapbru, Sunny Hill, Cantonment, Mawlong Hat (excluding localities beyond Umshyrpi bridge).
Defying the curfew order, a mob, comprising mostly stone-pelters, came out in large numbers in the curfew-bound areas and attacked security personnel with stones. The special mob-control team of the police used teargas shells to disperse the crowd.
Till reports last came in, the clashes between police and stone throwers were continuing.
“We are taking necessary measures to restore normalcy and watching the situation as an unruly mob, especially the stone-pelters, are not ready to stop their activities,” a senior police officer said.
East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Peter S. Dkhar said the situation is normal elsewhere in Shillong, but very tense in some areas, which compelled the district administration to retain curfew. He said the army has been kept on standby.
Internet services were suspended especially on mobile phones to prevent trouble mongers from spreading false news in social media especially WhatsApp.
A number of security personnel and stone-pelters were injured in the clash, but the exact numbers of injured persons and stone-pelters who were detained are not available.
A public announcement was made on Saturday evening that night curfew had been imposed in the whole of Shillong city from 10pm to 5am.
The police have arrested the main accused involved in the assault on the bus driver and two others.
People from curfew-bound areas travelled on foot to nearby market places in the city as the main commercial areas such as ïewduh and Khyndai Lad remained closed. Though Khyndai Lad was excluded from curfew, shops remained closed.
A late night notification said curfew would be lifted from 8am to 3pm on Sunday in areas under Lumdiengjri police station and Cantonment Beat House.
The East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner said this would allow people to buy essential commodities.
