There have been a total of seven improvised explosive device (IED) blasts in Meghalaya in the last five years, with two of these occurring in Shillong within the last 12 months, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui told the Assembly today.
The minister was grilled by his legislative colleagues over the attacks and what the police have done to, firstly, arrest those involved, and, secondly, ensure an end to such atrocities.
Rymbui presented details about the seven blasts. The most recent took place on January 30 in Khyndailad. On August 10 last year, a bomb ripped through Laitumkhrah main market.
On July 14 of the same year, a blast rocked the Police Reserve residential quarters in Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills. There were other attacks in the same district – on December 12, 2020, an IED went off in Lumshnong and on November 26, 2020, one exploded at Soo Kilo Market.
There were also two blasts that took place in February 2018, before the current government came to power. These were in Sawilgre village (February 18), which resulted in the death of four people, including a Nationalist Congress Party politician Jonathone Sangma, and in Dawki (February 1).
The minister informed that arrests were made in each case but that he could not divulge further details as some of the cases are being looked at by a judicial commission.
West Shillong MLA Mohendro Rapsang, who raised the matter, also asked what measures the state government has taken to prevent such attacks in the future.
Rymbui assured the house that state intelligence has been strengthened and that more focus has been put on the cyber crime division and the functioning of police stations.
Meanwhile, Rymbui also informed the Assembly that the central government has agreed that peace talks with the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, which has claimed responsibility for almost all the blasts, can proceed.
“Apart from the measures taken by strengthening the department, we are hopeful that the peace talks will resolve the issue and maintain peace and tranquility in the state,” Rymbui stated.
East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh, meanwhile, also reminded the government that residents of Laitumkhrah, which falls under her constituency, have not been compensated for the damage caused by the August blast.
