Five police personnel were injured when a mob attacked the Chief Minister’s office during a meeting held with groups demanding for a winter capital, in Tura today.
A meeting was held between Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and the leaders of the ACHIK, GHSMC and others at his office in Tura wherein it was decided that they would meet again in presence of all stakeholders in Shillong tentatively on August 8 or 9 to discuss the matter further.
However, a large crowd which had gathered outside the office started pelting stones reportedly unsatisfied with the decision.
According to the Chief Minister, the meeting was a peaceful one but “trouble mongers” who were not part of the protest led by the groups, started the arson.
As per reports, since the crowd kept swelling, police had to fire tear gas. In the turn of events and commotion, five police personnel were injured and the miscreants pelted stones at windows of chief minister’s office in Tura.
The Chief Minister who was unhurt was overseeing the matter at the office till late night.
“This incident is unfortunate. We had agreed that a final meeting on their demand will be discussed in Shillong as it requires more consultations, to which they were satisfied. We then heard agitations outside and leaders of the groups went out, but we were informed that they have never seen them before even during their 14 days fast. They looked intoxicated,” the Chief Minister said.
The leaders of the groups were also stuck inside the CM office.
“We have details on who instigated the attack and police are on the job,” the Chief Minister stated.
He also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 50,000 each for injured personnel and medical expenses to be borne by the government.
ACHIK is campaigning to make Tura the winter capital of Meghalaya and for a retrospective roster system and have been on a hunger strike for 14 days now.
