Amid unrest, Meghalaya imposes curfew

In view of fast worsening law and order situation in the city and adjoining areas in Meghalaya, the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills district as imposed curfew in Shillong Agglomeration with effect from 8 PM today till 5 AM of August 17 or until further order. Exemption is granted only for emergencies, Covid 19 and hospital duty as per existing order.

On Sunday after violence broke out over the death of a former rebel leader, petrol bombs were thrown at Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s personal residence. No one was hurt in the incident as the house was vacant. The Chief Minister stays at his official residence. The Meghalaya government suspended internet connectivity in four districts and imposed a curfew after the law and order situation worsened in the state. The situation in Shillong and other parts of Meghalaya turned worse, following the death of the former leader of a banned-militant group, the former general secretary of HNLC, Thangkhiew. Earlier in the day, state home minister Lahkmen Rymbui resigned, alleging in his resignation letter that former rebel leader Thangkhiew was “killed following the raid of police at his residence exceeding the lawful tenets of the law”. An uneasy calm has been witnessed in parts of Shillong after the death of the former rebel leader whose family has termed his death a “cold-blooded murder by the police”. Hundreds of people, in black clothes and carrying black flags, took part in Thangkhiew’s funeral procession on Sunday. The former rebel leader had surrendered in October 2018.