Meghalaya police arrests suspect in Harijan blast case, MO resembles past HNLC attacks

SHILLONG: The police in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya have apprehended an individual suspected to be linked to the IED blast at Syndicate Bus Station near Them Mator (Hairjan Colony) in Shillong on Saturday (March 09).

According to reports, the arrested person is believed to be associated with a pressure group in the Khasi Hills region of Meghalaya.

Earlier, Rituraj Ravi, the Superintendent of Police (SP) for East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya, remarked that the modus operandi (MO) used in the recent blast closely resembles that of previous explosions in the region, which were claimed by the banned unlawful association, Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).

It may be mentioned here that an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated in an unoccupied and deserted CGI sheet structure at Syndicate Bus Stand, Punjabi Lane, Mawlonghat in Shillong city of Meghalaya.

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The IED, concealed within a metal container, caused a blast suspected to be triggered by Gelatin sticks.

Fortunately, the explosion was contained within the CGI sheet structure, although it resulted in damage to the glass windows of nearby buildings.

During the incident, a passer-by identified as Lakhan Singh sustained injuries to his leg and was promptly transferred to Woodland Hospital in Shillong city of Meghalaya for medical treatment.