The Meghalaya Police in the East Khasi Hills district have successfully apprehended a suspect believed to be connected to the recent IED blast near Syndicate Bus Station in Shillong on March 9. The arrested individual is suspected to have ties to a pressure group operating in the Khasi Hills region.
The Superintendent of Police (SP) for East Khasi Hills district, Rituraj Ravi, pointed out that the modus operandi (MO) employed in the blast closely resembles that of previous explosions in the area. These earlier incidents were claimed by the banned unlawful association, Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
The improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated within an unoccupied CGI sheet structure at Syndicate Bus Stand, Punjabi Lane, Mawlonghat in Shillong. Concealed within a metal container, the IED, suspected to be triggered by Gelatin sticks, caused a blast that, fortunately, remained contained within the CGI sheet structure. Despite the containment, the explosion resulted in damage to the glass windows of nearby buildings.
During the incident, a passer-by named Lakhan Singh sustained leg injuries and was swiftly transported to Woodland Hospital in Shillong for medical treatment.
The arrest in connection to the blast signifies a crucial step in the ongoing investigation. Authorities are diligently working to unveil any potential affiliations and motives behind the attack, especially given the resemblance to previous HNLC-related incidents. Further developments in the case are expected as the police delve deeper into the details surrounding the arrested suspect. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving situation.
