Shillong: A curfew has been imposed in Meghalaya capital Shillong and internet services have been shut down in at least four districts of the state amid stray incidents of vandalism and arson over a top militant leader’s encounter.
The curfew, which was imposed in Shillong from 8 p.m. on Sunday, will continue till 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
The mobile internet was stopped for 48 hours beginning at 6 p.m. in the state’s East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts.
Stray incidents of vandalism and arson were reported, having the potential to disturb public peace and tranquility and cause a threat to public safety, PTI reported Home Secretary CVD Diengdoh as saying while quoting reports from the police headquarters.
The violence was reported from these areas as Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, a militant who had surrendered, was laid to rest at a cemetery in Shillong after being killed in a police encounter at his home earlier on August 13.
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The militant, according to police, was suspected to be the mastermind of a spate of IED attacks since his surrender in 2018.
Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP) R. Chandranathan said that there was ample evidence against Thangkhiew when he sent his team to arrest him.
He added that Thangkhiew allegedly attacked the police with a knife when his home was being raided, provoking a retaliatory shot in which he was killed.
Scores of supporters of Thangkhiew, one of the founders of Meghalaya’s proscribed insurgent outfit Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), carried black flags as his body was taken to the cemetery.
According to police, the government vehicles were vandalised and a police vehicle was set on fire at Jaiaw area of Shillong allegedly by Thangkhiew’s supporters.
Taking suo moto cognisance of the encounter, the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission has directed the state’s chief secretary to submit a detailed report on the incident within 15 days.