Shillong, Oct 19: Meghalaya Police has intensified security across Shillong for Durga Puja, deploying additional foot and mobile patrolling, increasing pickets and extending night patrols till 6 am.
The measures were finalised at a high-level review meeting convened by the Chief Secretary and attended by DGP Idashisha Nongrang, SP Traffic Hari Prasanta and Central Puja Committee (CPC).
SP Traffic Hari Prasanta said the deployment was based on CPC inputs, with focus on late-night hours.
“Based on inputs from CPC, we have decided to increase patrolling, both foot and mobile, and increase picketing, especially from 12 am to 5:30-6 am,” Prasanta said.
He said the situation remains normal and described the Mawbah arson as a stray incident. “Things are normal. These are stray acts. To be on the cautious side, we are increasing patrolling and surveillance. There is nothing to worry,” he said, adding no arrests have been made so far.
CPC president Naba Bhattacharjee appealed for peace and said authorities responded positively to security requests. “Everyone wants a peaceful Puja celebration irrespective of caste, community and creed,” he said, adding pandals continue to draw large crowds.
The security review follows burning of an abandoned scooty by unidentified miscreants at Mawbah around 9:45 pm on Saturday. East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem said investigation is on.
The BJP 18-West Mandal condemned the incident and sought time-bound probe, while Shillong All Faiths Forum appealed to maintain harmony and not believe rumours.
