A suspected improvised explosive device (IED) ruptured the peace in Khyndailad on Sunday evening, though no casualties were reported.
The blast occurred in the heart of the city’s commercial district, with The Electronic Centre, located in the Centre Point complex, bearing the brunt of the damage. Being a Sunday, it and shops around it were shut due to Covid-19 restrictions. One vehicle parked nearby was slightly damaged, however.
Police cordoned off the area following the incident, which took place at around 6:30pm. The crime scene unit and bomb squad were pressed into action to ascertain the actual cause of the blast.
The explosion was also heard by residents of nearby areas, such as Umsohsun, Mawkhar and Wahingdoh.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Sylvester Nongtnger, who was on the scene, declined to speculate on whether it was an IED as investigations were still underway.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui were more forthcoming, though, on social media.
The CM, who was not in Shillong today, wrote, “Strongly condemn the blast at Police Bazar, Shillong this evening. An attempt to disrupt peace and bring harm is nothing but a cowardly act. Perpetrators will not be spared. We will ensure peace prevails in the state.”
Rymbui, meanwhile, said that a suspect or suspects “have been identified” and that he was sure that the police “will be able to nab all the people involved.” He assured the public that peace will be maintained “at all cost.”
The Electronic Centre is set between Delhi Mistan and Babla’s on the main pedestrian thoroughfare running through Police Bazar. Stairs leading up to the shop were damaged and the store’s signboard was apparently ripped off in the explosion.
Two eyewitnesses present at the scene told of their shock when the IED went off.
“I heard a loud blast and we all ran away from the area, fearing that something major might happen. Luckily there was no one where the blast happened,” said one.
Another said, “We passed through that way and after 10 minutes the bomb exploded. It was a very loud explosion and we were in shock. We saw police rushing to the spot. We were very scared and looked from a distance. There was so much panic at that time.”
If it was an IED, this would be the third such incident in the space of a few months. The first one, claimed by the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, struck Laitumkhrah on August 10. That daytime, weekday attack saw two people receive minor injuries.
In pursuance of that case, police raided the home of surrendered HNLC militant Cheristerfield Thangkhiew in the early hours of August 13. Thangkhiew was shot dead by police in the raid, which sparked days of unrest in Shillong.
The second incident saw a dud IED planted outside the office of the ruling National People’s Party on October 4. In an all the more glaring lapse of security, that incident occurred on the day the Vice-President of India was visiting the state capital.
