Shillong: Curfew was clamped in at least 14 localities of Shillong on Friday and Internet services suspended after clashes between bus drivers and residents of a particular locality turned violent, injuring several policemen, a senior official said.

The clashes began after a bus handyman was allegedly assaulted by a group of residents of Them Metor on Thursday afternoon, officials said. Trouble escalated when rumours spread on social media that the helper had succumbed to his injuries, prompting a group of bus drivers to converge at Them Metor. Police had to fire teargas shells to disperse them, an official said. The handyman and three injured persons were taken to a hospital where they were released after first aid.

Curfew was imposed at 4am on Friday and will remain in force till further orders, East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner P.S. Dkhar said. Till noon, 10 locals were picked up while four were arrested. Several policemen have been injured in the clashes, he said.

Chief minister Conrad K. Sangma reviewed the law-and-order situation in the afternoon after fresh clashes erupted between locals, armed with stones, and security forces in Motphran area despite the curfew.

Home minister James K. Sangma and other senior cabinet colleagues attended the high-level meeting in which home department officials were present.

"We are monitoring the law-and-order situation closely in Shillong and efforts are being made to bring normalcy in the affected areas, Conrad said. He urged the people to maintain peace.

Internet services have been suspended in East Khasi Hills for 24 hours from 1.30pm, following orders from additional chief secretary M.S. Rao.

Motphran remained tense as stone-pelters clashed with security forces. A magistrate said about 100 personnel of the special mob control team came under intermittent attacks from a group of nearly 100 activists armed with stones and catapults.

Another meeting to take stock of the law-and-order situation was also convened by Dkhar and superintendent of police with three local MLAs and locality elders.

The district administration has imposed curfew in 14 localities under Lumdiengjri police station, including Them Metor, where the clashes first broke out.

A journalist was among those injured in the clashes and many youths were picked up after they were found trying to instigate a mob last night, an official said.

The areas where curfew has been imposed include localities under Lumdiengjri police station and the Cantonment beat house. PTI