16 TMC and 15 NPP Supporters Arrested for Poll-Related Violence in Meghalaya

SHILLONG: Meghalaya police have arrested several people affiliated with both the ruling party and the opposition in relation to an incidence of poll-related violence in the state.

The incident was reported from the Charbatapara village which falls under the Phulbari Assembly Constituency under the West Garo Hills district. The members of the Trinamool Congress party alleged that they were taking part in an election-related meeting in the Nozrul Hoque at about 10:30 PM when they were attacked by members of the ruling National People's Party.

SG Estamur Mominin the former NPP MLA who shifted to the TMC recently visited the village at about 9 PM to take part in a feast organised in the home premises of Nozrul Hoque. That was when a group of NPP members attacked the TMC supporters. The incident led to the injury of four people.

The police had rounded up more than 100 people with different political affiliations on Wednesday to prevent any more incidents of such violence in the region. And on the next day, they arrested a total of 31 people in the region in relation to the same incident.

A police official mentioned that these people were 'part of a gang' which was responsible for the injuries as well as the destruction of property in the Charbatapara village which falls under the 46 Phulbari Assembly Constituency. The Superintendent of Police for the West Garo Hills district mentioned," We have arrested 31 people — 16 supporters of the TMC and 15 workers of the NPP."

The authorities have deployed security personnel in the region to avoid any possible poll-related conflicts. The Chief Electoral Officer of Meghalaya state, F R Kharkongor, had earlier mentioned that out of all the constituencies in the state, 747 polling booths were categorised as vulnerable and 399 as critical. A total of 119 companies of security personnel have been deployed across the state to maintain law and order during the days of the election.

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