Curfew in Shillong after ‘caste clash’
SHILLONG: Curfew was imposed and internet services suspended in parts of Shillong early on Friday, a day after communal tension prevailed in the area.
By Thursday midnight, Motphran, a bustling commercial area, was the scene of a major standoff between an enraged mob and security forces, who tried their best to contain the situation.
Sources said that around 9.30 am on Thursday, a bus operated under the aegis of the state urban affairs department had parked at a junction which in a way obstructed local residents from fetching water from a public tap. The driver had alighted to have a cup of tea, leaving behind his two sons, aged 17 and 15 years, and a 17-year-old nephew.
Shortly after, a woman from a particular community approached the bus and asked for it to be removed, which the three boys said they couldn’t. She left and returned with a couple of youths who after an altercation thrashed the boys, resulting in head injuries to the 15-year-old boy who was taken to hospital and discharged after treatment.
A complaint was filed at the Cantonment Beat House and after talks, the matter was settled amicably, the sources said.
However, after sunset, when things seemed to have returned to normal, a group of drivers, in a show of solidarity with their colleague, converged at Motphran and urged people, including market dwellers, to avenge the assault on the kid, provoking them on communal lines.
In the mayhem that followed, several people, including policemen, a journalist and passersby were injured in a barrage of stone pelting between the two sides.
The skirmish continued until early morning and after a series of tear gas firing and requests by police and magistrates, the mob began to disperse.
Sensing simmering anger, the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner (DC), Peter S Dkhar promulgated curfew under Section 144 CrPC from 4 am Friday.