Laitumkhrah Police Station attack: Police examining CCTV footage to catch culprits behind torching of 3 vehicles

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 7, 2023

A scuffle between two groups of people has led to the attack and torching of 3 vehicles at the Laitumkhrah police station on Thursday night.

The incident began when both parties, who were involved in the fight, proceeded to the police station to file FIRs.

While there was heated exchange of words inside the police station, some unidentified people gathered outside and set on fire a police gypsy vehicle, a tourist taxi and motorbike, which were parked in the police station premises.  

The mob also pelted stones at the police station causing damage to a window pane.

Speaking to reporters, SP (City) Vivek Syiem said two groups of people, who were in an inebriated condition, got into an exchange of words that led to a scuffle. They belong to locals and non-locals.

One party rushed to the police station immediately and the other party also followed them.

“There was a commotion in the thana and many people came and when the matter was being sorted out, the arson took place. As a result, a police gypsy was totally set ablaze while the vehicle parked by the side and a bike were partially burnt (during the incident),” Syiem said.

A mob of over 40-50 people were against the FIR being filed by the first party against the second party before they committed the arson by hurling a petrol bomb.

The SP said that the police are yet to make any arrest as they are studying the CCTV footage of the incident to identify those involved in the arson.

“Appropriate action will be taken as per law,” he added.  

Stating that the incident was unexpected, Syiem said, “It was actually a very small issue between these two groups of people. It was like a drunken brawl and when the mob came, there was still dialogue happening and nobody expected that somebody would torched the vehicle.”

“See being in the line of fire, police can be a target but we have to stand up and uphold the law,” he added.

Further, the SP informed that the police have started checking vehicles and drunken driving in certain places where the public used to converge like Khyndailad, Police Point and other places, which have high footfalls.

“We have chalked out a plan and yesterday we have started checking against drunken driving from Khyndailad and we also planned for police point and other places and unfortunately this happens in Laitumkhrah,” he regretted.

“We have also written a request to the DC that food stalls shouldn’t happen late at night beyond a certain time. We requested at least beyond 11 o’clock, they should not be allowed to open,” he added.

On the recent torching of a police gypsy at Mawroh, the SP said police are waiting for the FSL report to ascertain whether it is arson or it is accidental.

“In fact the battery had also exploded, it could be a faulty wiring of that vehicle. That we cannot say but yesterday it is obvious it was arson,” he added.