Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: Two masked individuals hurled petrol bombs at the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) office in Shillong on Monday, August 3. The attack occurred between 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm, causing no injuries or significant property damage. One device struck an outer wall, leaving minor discoloration, while another landed in a room occupied by a senior scientific assistant who escaped unhurt.
Witnesses noted the attackers struck specific spots, including an official vehicle. Preliminary reports suggest four people arrived on two separate scooters, though CCTV footage currently shows two masked individuals entering the premises. MSPCB Member Secretary George Hagi Chyrmang, who had departed for an inspection in Byrnihat shortly before the incident, returned to find the site under police scrutiny.
Chyrmang expressed confusion over the assault. "Why target our office? We are just employees doing our work quietly. We have done nothing," he stated. He maintained that the board holds no known enmity with any group.
The Laitumkhrah Police Station has registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) following a formal complaint from the board. Shillong City Superintendent of Police Dangsan Khyriem confirmed that forensic experts have collected evidence from the scene. Authorities are now reviewing security footage and conducting a manhunt for the suspects.
The strike follows a contentious July 31 public hearing regarding a proposed Shree Cement Ltd limestone mining project at Lum Syrman in the East Jaintia Hills district. Local residents, farmers, and civil society groups have voiced strong opposition to the plant over environmental concerns. Despite the timing, police stated it is premature to definitively link the bombing to the mining protest. Security has been increased at the Lumpynngad office as the investigation continues.
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