Unknown miscreants attempted to set fire to the Umsning Town Durbar Secondary School yesterday evening, though fortunately members of the public quickly put out the blaze.
An FIR has been filed with Ri-Bhoi police. Speaking to the media, Angelstar Khonghat, the chairman of the school managing committee, said that the fire broke out at around 11pm and was spotted by concerned members of society. Their quick response ensured that the fire was limited to a single classroom and did not spread further.
Khonghat, who is also the headman of Umsning Proper A, expressed serious concern over the incident. He noted that while the school has previously experienced minor incidents, this is the first time it has been necessary to report an incident to police, given the seriousness of the attempted arson. He urged law enforcement to thoroughly investigate the case and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Meanwhile, BL Nonglait, the school headmistress, strongly condemned the actions of the miscreants. She expressed deep concern that even an educational institution was not spared from such malicious acts.
She also appealed to the local community to remain vigilant and to immediately report any suspicious activity related to the school, either to local authorities or school officials.
