Shillong, July 3: Meghalaya police today sounded an alert in all its police stations following a shootout at a police station in the city. Following this, the leader of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) claimed through a social networking site that the outfit was behind the incident.
Around 10.30pm yesterday, the Lumdiengjri police station on the Guwahati-Shillong route was attacked by three or four unidentified men armed with AK-47 rifles. Some of the bullets even entered the rooms of the police station.
On his Facebook wall, the HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw stated, “Last night’s incident was only a small illustration before we celebrate our 25 years on August 14, 2012. We will continue with our armed struggle for another 25 years, if necessary.”
East Khasi Hills superintendent of police A.R. Mawthoh said it has been decided to beef up security in all the police stations across the district to thwart similar incidents.
Mawthoh also said so far the police are yet to receive any definite clue on the group or groups which was responsible for the incident.
However, another senior police official said, “The incident lasted for a few minutes. They fired one round of a magazine and after attacking the police station they left on foot.”
“We are not able to say whether it is any new outfit or the HNLC. If yesterday’s attack was perpetrated by a new outfit, they meant to show they have arrived. If it was the HNLC, then it was meant to show that they were still alive,” the official added.
During last night’s incident, Bitu Hajong, 18, son of sub-inspector M.N. Hajong, suffered minor injuries.
NCP demands apology
The Meghalaya state unit of the NCP today sought “disciplinary” action against the Punjab Congress MLA for his comments that stray dogs be sent to the Northeast even as they demanded a public apology from the legislator.
“We demand strict disciplinary action from the Congress party for making such a statement which is derogatory,” NCP state working president Clifford Nengnong said in a statement today. Condemning the statements made on the floor of the House in Punjab, Nengnong said the statement was “reckless” and “unbecoming” which hurts the sentiments of the people of the region, reports PTI.
Congress MLA Ajit Singh Mofar had moved a resolution in the Punjab Assembly on June 28, seeking to tackle stray dogs menace in the state by sending them to China, Nagaland and Mizoram for 'whatever they do to them.'
'We can make arrangements to catch such dogs, put them in jungle or zoos. Maybe we can then send them to Nagaland, Mizoram and China where they are more needed,' he had said in a veiled reference to the practice in some communities in the Northeastern states where dogs are killed for their meat reports PTI
