Shillong: A mob cornered and beat three people at 11th Mile, Mylliem, on Sunday morning. The chaos erupted after the trio allegedly tried to rip a music system from a parked car. Police arrived at 5:55 am to find the crowd tightening its grip.
One suspect suffered a physical beating. Another was tied with a rope. The angry crowd also moved to smash the suspects white Maruti, marked ML 05 T 9837. Police identified the suspects as 26-year-old Alberth Marbaniang from Umpling, his 27-year-old wife Ilabet Kharmawlong, and 25-year-old Banshan Kurbah from Mairang.
The trouble started hours earlier. At 4:10 am, a car owner at 12th Mile heard his central-lock alarm go off. He spotted the trio targeting his car, license plate ML 05 Y 2364. The suspects ran. A chase followed. They reached 11th Mile before the mob cut them off.
Social media videos show attackers hitting two suspects with stones. Officers stepped in to stop the violence. Police warned the crowd not to take the law into their own hands, stating, "Police intervened to prevent the situation from escalating."
Authorities sent the trio to Pomlum CHC for medical checks. The white Maruti was towed to Mawngap Police Station. Officials finished inspecting the crime scene at 12th Mile and told the car owner to file a formal report to push the case forward.
Updated at 24th August 2026 at 9:52pm
The situation turned hostile for law enforcement, as officers reported being manhandled and verbally abused while trying to push back the crowd. Although the three theft suspects were initially detained, they were eventually released because the car owner never filed a formal complaint.
Police have since launched a suo motu case, charging members of the mob under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rioting, unlawful assembly, assault, and obstructing public servants. Investigators identified and arrested 37-year-old Arning KharKongor and 33-year-old Pynshaiborlang Kharkongor, both from Mylliem, in connection with the attack.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem issued a blunt warning to residents: "Police appealed to the public not to take the law into their own hands and to inform police by calling 112 or approaching the nearest police station when such incidents occur."
Updated at 25th August 2026 at 5:46am
Police identified the two primary instigators behind the attack as 37-year-old Arningson Kharkongor, also known as Arning, and 33-year-old Pynshaiborlang Kharkongor, alias Lung Matok. Both men are residents of Mylliem Kyndong and were taken into custody after investigators reviewed the circumstances of the brawl. They are currently being produced before the court.
Reports from the scene indicate that the crowd did not stop at the suspects. Officers faced verbal abuse and were physically manhandled by the mob while attempting to pull the three theft suspects to safety. Following the release of the suspects due to the lack of a formal complaint from the car owner, authorities registered a suo motu case. The charges filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita include rioting, unlawful assembly, assault, causing hurt, and obstruction of public servants.
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