Police are on the lookout for two suspects wanted in connection with the improvised explosive device (IED) blast at the Dhar Construction Company in Shymplong village, East Jaintia Hills.
Both suspects have had prior run-ins with the police, who released their mugshots from their previous arrests.
They have been identified as Smiki Tongper and Issei Sungoh. Tongper is a resident of Shymplong and police say that he planned and executed the blast in coordination with two men who have been nabbed in connection with the blast – Richard Suchen and Pynshaitbor Syih.
Like Tongper, Suchen (31) and Syih (45) are both residents of Shymplong. Police also said that in a raid on Tongper’s residence, a country-made rifle and several items that could be used in making IEDs were found, namely three rolls of safety fuse and two small safety fuses, three detonators and six empty detonator caps, gunpowder, 82 small splinters, two handsets and five fuses.
Tongper was arrested in 2023 in connection with a Khliehriat Women Police Station case for sexual assault of a child.
In a press release this morning, police said that another person wanted for the IED blast was an unidentified member of the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC). The HNLC had immediately taken responsibility for Monday’s attack in Shymplong.
Later, police identified the HNLC member as one Issei Sungoh of Khliehriat. He had been picked up by police in connection with the 2023 HNLC attack on the police reserve in Khliehriat and he subsequently had other run-ins with the police.
Police have requested help from the public in locating Tongper and Suchen. Those with information can visit their nearest police station to disclose any details they have. The identity of the informants will be kept secret and they will be eligible for a “suitable reward”.
In connection with the bomb blast, the police have registered a case under the Terrorist Act, under Section 113 BNS. Other charges were also filed under various sections of BNS and the Explosive Substances Act. The HNLC claimed the attack targeted the Dhar family for not giving in to the banned militant group’s extortion demands.
The explosion ripped through a water tanker. Although initial reports stated that the driver had been injured, today police said that there were no casualties.
