Meghalaya CM home attacked, Home minister quits, Curfew in Shillong, Internet banned

SHILLONG:  As violence rocked Shillong following the police shooting of a former militant, unidentified people on Sunday night lobbed a petrol bomb at the residence of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.

According to the police, two Molotov cocktail bottles were hurled at around 10.15 pm by vehicle-borne attackers at the premises of Sangma’s personal residence at Third Mile.

The first bottle was lobbed at the front side of the CM’s residence while the other one was thrown behind the backyard. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

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Earlier, the Meghalaya government imposed a curfew in Shillong and banned mobile internet services in at least four districts violence rocked Shillong and nearby areas on Independence Day.

Telecommunication services have been suspended 48 hours (from 6 pm on August 15) in four districts — East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi.

Meanwhile, in a shocking development, Meghalaya Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui resigned in wake of the violence and demanded a judicial inquiry into the violence. He also expressed shock over the killing of HNLC ex-leader Chesterfield Thangkhiew following the police raid.

“Considering the gravity of the situation, I request you to relieve me of the Home (Police) Department with immediate effect. This will facilitate free and fair enquiry taken by the government to bring out the truth of the incident,” Rymbui said in his resignation letter to Chief Minister Sangma.

Banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) ex-leader Chesterfield Thangkhiew was killed following the police raid at his residence. Director-General of Police R Chandranathan said Thangkhiew attacked the police team with a knife, provoking a retaliatory shot in which he was killed. (Agencies )