Meghalaya death toll rises to three, night curfew reimposed

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The death toll in violence-hit Meghalaya has risen to three with another person succumbing to injuries at Pyrkan village, East Khasi Hills district, on Sunday. The authorities re-imposed curfew in capital city Shillong and its outskirts, officials added. Central para-military forces have been deployed along with the State forces in the trouble-torn areas.

According to police, a 37-year-old man, identified as Uphas Uddin was killed when three unidentified armed miscreants attacked him at his house at Pyrkan village under Shella Police Station of East Khasi Hills district. “Uphas Uddin, who was grievously injured in the attack, was rushed to the Khamati Community Health Centre (CHC), where the doctor declared him brought dead,” the police official said.

However, police said that during the inquiry it has been ascertained that three persons entered the house and attacked the person sleeping on his bed, adding that this may be the result of business rivalry or personal enmity. The police also said that the miscreants appeared to know the detailed layout of the victim’s house.

In a separate incident, unknown persons attacked Rajua Karim, an employee of the government-owned Meghalaya Basin Development Agency on Saturday at Mawthabah village in Mawsyram.

The critically injured Karim, a resident of Phulbari in West Garo Hills, was admitted at NEGRIHMS in Shillong on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, in Shillong on Saturday, miscreants hurled a petrol bomb night at the residential compound of a person identified as Lakshmi Bareh at Pynthorbah, Block – 4. Police said no one was injured and no property damaged in the incident.

In the Ri-Bhoi district, some non-tribal carpenters who were staying at Umtrew ran away from their houses on Sunday night into the forest when they heard some local youths were proceeding to the area in two buses. Police said they have, however, now returned to their homes.

It may be mentioned that the East Khasi Hills district administration has imposed a night curfew in Shillong and its adjoining areas. The areas under curfew are the entire municipal and Cantonment areas, Mawlai Block including the census town, Mawpat Block including the census town, areas under Mylliem Block from the Umshyrpi Bridge up to Seven mile in Upper Shillong, Madanrting, Mawblei, Laitkor, Nongkseh, Umlyngka, Lawsohtun, Mawdiangdiang, Diengiong, and Siejiong.

Mobile Internet services remained suspended from Friday night in six districts (East, West Jaintia Hills, East, West, South West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts); and the suspension would stay until further orders.

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