SHILLONG:
In a shocking turn of events at the Mahadev Khola temple in Shillong, miscreants launched a violent attack on devotees, leading to chaos within the temple premises. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, during the third Monday of Sawan, when a large crowd had gathered to offer their prayers.
According to Bholanath Mishra, President of Mahadev Khola Welfare and Trust, the temple administration was attending to the influx of devotees when a group of miscreants suddenly instigated chaos inside the temple premises. Unfortunately, some women devotees suffered minor injuries during the altercation.
Eyewitnesses reported that the conflict was unprovoked and sparked when an individual requested a coconut from a shopkeeper without paying. Upon denial, the individual became aggressive and hurled the coconut at the woman shopkeeper, even brandishing a knife to intimidate her.
Later, the same individual returned with a larger group, resulting in the vandalism and assault of people within the temple premises. The woman shopkeeper, who wanted to be unnamed, stated that the mob specifically targeted her son, who had protected her from the knife-wielding miscreant.
During the attack, the mob reportedly stole ₹15,000 and a mobile phone from the temple premises.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against the miscreants at the Lumdiengjri police station.
The police reached the spot to investigate but by then the miscreants had already fled the spot.