SHILLONG : East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal said police faced a petrol bomb attack while attempting to arrest individuals at the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) office in Jaiaw following Wednesday’s violence in Shillong.
Baranwal said the police team had gone to the KSU office after identifying people allegedly involved in assault and vandalism cases reported during the black-flag bike rally.
He said a petrol bomb was thrown towards the police team as it approached the office. An FIR has been registered in connection with the alleged attack on the police.
“The response was proportionate. There was no intention from the police side to cause any disturbance to anyone who was not part of this protest,” Baranwal said.
He said police used one stun grenade and tear gas to disperse the crowd after the alleged petrol bomb attack.
“The aggression was from their end wherein a petrol bomb was hurled onto the police forces, and police had to respond,” he said.
Police action was restricted to the KSU office and was not intended to affect other residents in the area.
“The action was extremely limited to the office of the organisation,” he said.
Police later withdrew from the locality after community leaders approached them, according to the DC. He said the withdrawal was aimed at preventing further inconvenience to residents.
The confrontation followed a day of violence during the KSU rally, during which police said 31 vehicles were damaged at different locations across Shillong. The damaged vehicles included private cars, public transport and school-related vehicles.
Baranwal also spoke about attempts by the district administration to arrange talks between the KSU leadership and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma before the rally.
He said a written communication was sent to the union on the night of August 18 offering a meeting with the Chief Minister on August 19 at 9 am.
The administration, according to Baranwal, had been informed later that night that the KSU intended to go ahead with its bike rally on August 19 and would be available for a meeting only on August 20.
“The government has been extremely accommodative,” Baranwal said, while explaining the administration’s efforts to engage with the organisation.
The KSU went ahead with its black-flag rally on Wednesday, which later saw reports of stone-pelting, vehicle attacks and other damage in parts of Shillong.
The union subsequently stopped its public rally from Jaiaw towards Khyndailad. KSU president Raymond Kharjana said unidentified “opportunistic elements” had attempted to tarnish the organisation’s agitation.
The union decided that only its Central Executive Committee members would proceed to Khyndailad for a sit-in demonstration.
Later in the night, Kharjana, KSU vice-president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar were arrested by police in connection with the violence.
Baranwal said the police investigation would determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged petrol bomb attack and identify those responsible for the incidents reported during the unrest.
