Police are hunting down the culprits behind the murder of a non-tribal labourer at Mawlai Mawroh here yesterday.
Informing this to media persons today, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma while strongly condemning the murder said that the investigation is underway to trace and arrest the persons involved so they can be prosecuted as per law.
“The government is taking this incident very seriously and the culprits will be apprehended,” Sangma said, adding that he met family members of the victims and promised justice in the case.
The Chief Minister said security forces will be deployed, and if necessary, additional security forces will be called in.
Further, the Chief Minister said he has instructed the Director General of Police and Chief Secretary to maintain strict vigilance on the law and order situation in Shillong and other areas.
It may be mentioned that Arjun Ray (52) who worked as a construction labourer at a private building in Mawlai Mawroh along with two others were grievously attacked by a group of masked persons yesterday at around 11:15 am.
Ray succumbed to severe head injuries at NEIGRIHMS shortly later. The two other injured labourers are still undergoing treatment at the hospital.
The incident has evoked widespread condemnation with many people saying such attacks on innocent poor people are inhuman and highly condemnable.
The murder comes after two weeks when two limestone quarry labourers were killed in Ichamati area that has instilled fear and insecurity amongst the populace, especially the wage earners.
It may be mentioned that on March 27, two persons – Sujit Dutta (35) and Esan Singh (24) – were murdered by miscreants at Ichamati near Shella in East Khasi Hills. The two victims worked as labourers in the limestone quarries in Ichamati.
On April 2, police arrested two members of the KSU, Shanborlang Shati (26) and Mesadapbor Skhembil (26) in connection with the killing.