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Shillong: In view of the post-election violence in some constituencies of Meghalaya, the administration on Friday imposed an indefinite night curfew in some places with immediate effect. Eastern West Khasi Hills District Magistrate (DM) W Nongsiage has issued an order imposing a night curfew from 6 pm to 6 am in Mawasawa, Sangshong village, Umwihsup and Mairang Mission village.He said that on Thursday night, an unruly mob set fire to five government vehicles and one private vehicle and pelted stones.
The mob also damaged the Deputy Commissioner’s office building. “It appears to me that the said violence and arson was perpetrated by members of some organized groups and syndicates to further their objectives,” Nongsiage said. He said it is also feared that such groups may continue “illegal assembly and violence as well as arson” to further their interests. The DM said that therefore, the curfew is imposed “to ensure peace and safety of the general public and to protect public properties”.Several people were injured in the post-poll violence in at least three assembly constituencies in Meghalaya.
At the same time, the dead body of a person has been recovered in mysterious condition. Several vehicles parked in the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office premises in Mairang were torched. A dead body of a person has been found in mysterious condition at the violence site. The incident took place soon after Congress supporters gheraoed the DC office on Thursday expressing dissatisfaction over the results of Mairang assembly constituency.
Meghalaya Assembly Speaker and United Democratic Party (UDP) chief Metbah Lyngdoh defeated his Congress rival Batshem Rinthiang by a narrow margin. The district police fired tear gas shells to disperse the violent mob last night, the official said. In another incident at Sohra, National People’s Party (NPP) supporters pelted stones at the office of the SDO after being disappointed with the results of Shella assembly constituency.
The district’s Superintendent of Police (SP) M.G.R.Kumar said, “The situation is now under control and additional force has been deployed.” United Democratic Party’s (UDP) Balajid Kupar Sinrem is the NPP’s candidate for the seat has defeated. The district administration on Thursday imposed curfew in Sahsaniang village in Mowkaiw of West Jaintia Hills in view of clashes between two groups following the declaration of the assembly election results.
NPP chief and outgoing Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma appealed to all to maintain peace and urged leaders of all political parties not to instigate their supporters in the wake of the post-poll violence in the hill state. “I request all to desist from indulging in any kind of violence,” Sangma told reporters here.
The ruling National People’s Party (NPP) has emerged as the single largest party by winning 26 seats in Meghalaya’s 59 assembly seats on Thursday. However, it could not touch the majority mark in the 60-member assembly. The United Democratic Party (UDP), an ally of the NPP, emerged as the second largest party by winning 11 seats. Congress and Trinamool Congress won five seats each. BJP could win only two seats. The newly formed ‘Voice of the People’s Party’ (VPP) won four seats while the ‘Hill State People’s Democratic Party’ (HSPDP) won two seats. Two independent candidates also won.
