IED planted in a coke factory, handiwork of local miscreants: EJH police

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 17, 2020

SHILLONG: East Jaintia Hills police said that the IED bomb planted in the premises of a coke factory was the handiwork of local miscreants.

An improvised explosive device (IED) weighing approximately 7 kg was recovered from the premises of M/s Meghalaya Coke which is presently under construction at Bther village on Thursday. The IED is suspected to have been planted in the night intervening January 15 and 16.

The chowkidar on duty spotted some electric wires at around 6 am on January 16 and the information was given to police. On receipt of information, the team from Umpleng AD Camp rushed to the site and evacuated the area.

Subsequently, bomb squad from police headquarters, Shillong destroyed the IED in-situ. Whole area was search thereafter using K-9 unit to look for evidence.

District police chief Vivekanand Singh said preliminary investigation shows that Gelatin which is commonly used for limestone mining in the region has been used as an explosive in the IED.

He said the splinters have been seized as per procedure and being sent to forensic science laboratory for expert opinion.

The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has claimed responsibility for planting the bomb in the factory.

The SP however said that a writ petition was filed by one Damewanhi Rymbai and others in the High Court of Meghalaya and the Court in its order passed on November 22, 2019 restrained the setting up of coke oven plant.

However, the Court vacated the stay order and matter was disposed of on January 15, itself.

“Therefore, prima facie, the act appears to be an outcome of this rivalry and a handiwork of local miscreants,” Singh said.

The SP further informed that a case has been registered in this regard at the Khliehriat police station and the matter is being investigated from all angles. According to him, there was no loss of life or property in the incident.