SHILLONG, JAN 31: An “underage” Area Commander of Shillong Region of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) along with his accomplice were arrested on Monday in connection with the Khyndailad bomb blast.
This has also led to the recovery and safe defuse of another crude Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
Informing this, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui told reporters that two persons including a juvenile were arrested after they are suspected to be responsible for the blast incident.
He said the first accused, who was a juvenile, was identified and picked up hours after the incident took place at 6.30pm on Sunday evening.
“Though his confession, another live bomb was recovered and defused by the bomb squad of the police department (at Demthring area),” Rymbui said while adding that another accused person, who hailed from Nongstoin, was also arrested.
“I am very hopeful that the police will be able to break the nexus and nab all those responsible for this cowardly act,” he said.
Whether commercial hubs would be identified as vulnerable to such incidents, the home minister said that the police have identified all the vulnerable areas in the city as well as the state.
He also admitted that installation of CCTVs in some public places by the police department have become very helpful in identifying the people who are intending to commit crimes.
“The use of technology does help in the new age investigation. We as police have to be alive with the situation and investigate and gather intelligence as per the need of the situation,” he added.
On Sunday evening, the IED blast which took place right at the entrance of the Centre Point building damaged the wall, windowpanes and signage of the shops located at the building .
The home minister further rejected the allegation that it was an intelligence failure on the part of the police.
He defended by saying, “If there was an intelligence failure, the police would not have been able to nab the culprit within a few hours after the incident…police intelligence are alert and many people are under the radar where if anything happens we could track (them).”
Giving full credit to the police for taking swift action, Rymbui said, “I hope this will be a benchmark where the police will do more in their investigation taking into consideration the new age crime.”
“In this case, I am very happy that the general public are sharing information and are cooperating. That is why the police are able to move at a faster pace than in any investigation,” he said while urging the citizens to continue to lend their support and cooperation in fighting such crimes.
Asked if the state government is still keen to pursue the Centre for holding peace talks with the HNLC, Rymbui said, “peace should return then everything is possible.”
Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtnger in a statement said after a few hours of the incident, based on reliable source information, 1 person was apprehended and detained for necessary interrogation.
“During the course of enquiry, he admitted his involvement and claimed himself to be the Area Commander of Shillong Region of the banned outfit- Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC),” he said.
“On his leading, a crude IED was recovered from the residence of his relatives which was safely defused and duly seized in the presence of independent witnesses,” Nongtnger added.
The SP further informed that a case was registered vide Shillong Sadar P.S Case No. 27(01)2022 U/S 120 (B)/427 IPC R/W Sec. 5 Explosive Substances Act and the investigation is in progress.
Meanwhile, police sources informed that the juvenile had identified himself as the HNLC Area Commander for Shillong Region.
By Our Reporter
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