SHILLONG, JULY 25: An unruly mob consisting of illegal hawkers led by businessman Paul Leong attacked five Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) enforcement staff with lethal weapons. The enforcement staff also includes its superintendent. Two press persons which includes T7 reporter Marcus Lyngdoh also faced the wrath of the mob as they were also not spared and were assaulted by the mob.
The incident took place at forenoon at around 11.30 am.
The seven injured people were immediately rushed to the Shillong Civil hospital. Two of them reportedly received serious injuries and one of them was admitted in the hospital.
The KHADC secretary W Syiemlieh and the Shillong Press Club president David Laitphlang filed two separate FIRs with the police.
The KHADC enforcement staffs who were injured during the mob attack are its superintendent P Sohphoh and five of his staff- T Thangkhiew, B Kharkongor, P Khabuli and M Thongni.
East Khasi hills SP M Kharkhrang said Paul Leong and his son Kimfa Marbaniang were immediately arrested by the police. Leong wife owns the Nicholsroy building at Iewduh. Kharkhrang also added that some others were also picked up in connection with the assault cases and police will investigate to establish their involvement.
According to Sohphoh, he along with his staff numbering around 50 of them had gone to GS Road near Bata shoe shop for checking the trade licenses of the shops when suddenly a mob led by Leong attacked them with lethal weapons. He said, “As we were conducting checking for trade licenses in the GS road on the steps that leads up to Iewduh we were attacked by a mob equipped with lethal weapons.”
The KHADC enforcement wing has been conducting checking for trade licenses in Iewduh and other parts of the city. The KHADC has come down heavily on illegal trading by shops and other business establishments who have not got trade license from the KHADC.
An enforcement staffs who was also assaulted but escape with minor injuries said that the attacked appeared to be well planned as everyone came out with lethal weapons. He, however, said that there were other shopkeepers who came out to help them from the attackers.
At hindsight, it appears that the attackers knew that the KHADC enforcement wing would conduct the checking on Friday.
Taking a serious note of the attack on media, the Shillong Press Club (SPC) led by its president David Laitphlang filed an FIR with the East Khasi hills SP M Kharkhrang.
Kharkhrang assured the SPC delegation that the police would immediately act and arrest those involved in the attack.- By Our Reporter
The KHADC must be very alert so that this type of incident can be prevented or eschewed. How can a mob of hawkers assault the authorised crews? Who thìs Paul Leong is. I feel the KHADC should conduct this kind of check so that Leong type businessmen will be wiped away completely.