Investigation on to nab more persons involved in attacking Assam labourers at SWKH: AIGP

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 27, 2021

The state police are still investigating to nab more persons, who are involved in the recent killing of a labourer and injuring seven of his co-workers in South West Khasi Hills District.

This came after three persons, who initially detained for interrogation, were arrested.

“The investigation of the case is in progress to establish the identities of the other persons involved in the crime…,” Assistant Inspector General of Police (A) GK Iangrai said in a statement on Saturday.

He said the state police also appeal to the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands or breach communal peace and harmony in the state, as stringent action under relevant provisions of law will be taken against them.

On the night of February 24, a group of masked miscreants attacked the eight labourers engaged for construction of the St Xavier’s College girls hostel  at Umoid village.

Iangram said around 20 unknown miscreants forcibly broke open into the room where these labourers were staying and assaulted them, after which, the miscreants fled away from the scene.

All the labourers had sustained injuries and were immediately taken to the Mawkyrwat CHC for medical examination. Two of the eight labourers – Raju Mondol and Shahinoor Alom sustained serious injuries on their persons for which they had to be referred to Shillong civil hospital for further treatment. Mondol however succumbed to his injuries.

An FIR was registered with the Mawkyrwat police station.

According to police, the eight labourers from Ujnghagrar Char village, South Salmara, Mankachar District, Assam had arrived at St Xavier’s college, Umoid village for construction of the girls hostel on February 19.

The AIGP said the village headman accompanied by secretary and some members of the village Umoid-Shaidshaid on being informed of the arrival of the labourers, went to St Xavier’s College requesting the Father of the college not to keep the labourers in their village until some arrangement was made.

The request was acknowledged by the Father who on the same day shifted the labourers to Nativity School Mawkyrwat for their safety.

On February 23, the Father of the college had sent a letter of clarification to the village authority and on the same day, there was a cordial meeting between the Father and the village authority in which the labourers were granted permission to stay and work for the construction of the college.

On the basis of this agreement and on receiving assurance from the village authority that no harm would come upon the construction workers, they were then shifted to St Xavier’s College construction site, Umoid on February 24, he said.