Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today hinted that the recent petrol bomb attacks in Shillong and Jowai was a reaction to the arrest of persons involved in recent murder cases at Ichamati and Mawlai Mawroh.
It may be mentioned that at least eight cases of arson attacks have been reported in the State during the past one month. These include the petrol bomb attacks on three police stations – Sadar police station, Rynjah police station and Mawlai police station, MGCC office at Rilbong, Jowai Police Reserve and Water Resource Department. The perpetrators behind such incidents are yet to be arrested.
Speaking to media persons here today, Sangma said there were certain incidents that took place and the government took firm steps by arresting individuals, who are involved in certain (murder) incidents based on pure evidence and facts.
“And because of that we did expect that there would be some reaction. So we should be very clear that this is a reaction to certain actions that took place and therefore we were not surprised as such,” he added.
Asked if the arson attacks are linked to the arrests of KSU activists in the three murder cases in Ichamati and Mawlai Mawroh, Sangma said, “In fact whenever a crime has happened, we have reacted and we have picked up people. As I said, it is not about any organisation. Whenever evidence is there and whenever we find the evidence we will be acting and we have done that and that’s clearly the example that has been shown in terms of the arrests that have been made.”
“Government cannot go on speculation or the police cannot act on speculations. It should be based on facts and evidence and hence after facts and evidence are there, definitely the government has taken action in the past and will take action in the future also,” he added.
Maintaining that the government and police will not spare anybody who commits crime, Sangma also said that police are working to identify and arrest those involved in petrol bomb attacks.
“Police are on the job but I don’t want to go into the details. We are very sure that the situation will be under control and I assure the people of the city and the State that the government is doing everything in its capacity to ensure these incidents are controlled and they don’t happen in the future,” he said.
