SHILLONG:
Minutes after a low-intensity suspected IED blast hit Police Bazaar, Shillong’s commercial hub, on Sunday evening, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said that the “suspect have been identified and investigation is on”.
Rymbui said that in a post on a popular micro-blogging website. “Today around 6.30 pm an IED blast was triggered at Police Bazar. Suspect have been identified and investigation is on & I am sure that the Police will be able to nab all the people involved. Strongly condemn this act & assured that peace will be maintained at all cost (sic),” he wrote.
Earlier, terming the incident as a “cowardly act”, chief minister Conrad K Sangma, in a post on a popular social media website, wrote, “Strongly condemn the blast at Police Bazar, Shillong this evening. An attempt to disrupt peace and bring harm is nothing but a cowardly act. Perpetrators will not be spared. We will ensure peace prevails in the State(sic).”
Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Sylvester Nongtynger rushed to the site and confirmed that no persons were injured in the blast.
“It is premature to ascertain if the blast was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion. The probe is on and the bomb squad is analysing the materials recovered from the site,” he said.
Till filing of this report, no group or individual has claimed responsibility on the incident.
This is the fourth blast in the city since July 14, 2021. In all the previous blasts, the proscribed outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) had claimed responsibility.