A sickening display of wanton violence led to police in Laitumkhrah being pelted with stones and vehicles set on fire following a late night brawl between two groups.
In scenes reminiscent of a riot, Laitumkhrah police station was besieged after 1am. The mob even tried to snatch away a firearm from a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan.
The beginnings of the disturbance reportedly began near the Directorate of Health Services office, a few hundred metres from the station. Although the authorities have played down the role that communalism played in the clash, members of the two groups are said to have belonged to different communities.
Following the brawl, one of the groups came to the police station to file a complaint. As they were doing so, the other group also came to the station and demanded that police not to register the FIR. A commotion then broke out and, as police were attempting to resolve it, some members of one of the groups set a police Gypsy on fire and began hurling stones at the station.
Besides the Gypsy, a tourist vehicle and a motorcycle were partially burnt.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtnger said that the mob tried to snatch the service rifle of a CRPF trooper but no injury was reported in the scuffle. The SP denied that the CRPF had used excessive force, as has been claimed.
Police have examined CCTV footage as part of their investigations and identified the miscreants, though they are reluctant to divulge the names at present.
Police are also looking into the possibility that members of pressure groups were involved in the fight and mob action.
Today saw heightened police and CRPF presence in busy areas of the city but the situation is normal.
Cabinet minister and local MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh visited the police station herself and decried the violence.
She said the incident occurred because youths hang around the neighbourhood late into the night and indulge in illegal activities. Lyngdoh urged the police to arrest all those involved.
Laitumkhrah is a popular, cosmopolitan hangout spot but its reputation took a severe blow after last night’s violence.
“Henceforth, we will disallow young people who hang out in the streets of Laitumkhrah,” Lyngdoh said. “I am sorry, young boys and girls, if you do not know how to behave, you should stay home.”
The legislator said that she is well aware of kinds of behaviour that people get up to in the area – she spoke of “vehicles raving through these roads” – but she had “tolerated it because I felt young people have to have an outlet to hang out together. But I don’t think our people are ready and mature enough to use this freedom that they have.”
Lyngdoh called for the police to be issued with more mobile breathalysers to crack down on drunken behaviour. “I want Laitumkhrah to be peaceful. It is a peace-loving community and we don’t want rumours to start from here.”
