Two persons were injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded at a busy Laitumkhrah market in Shillong on Tuesday afternoon even as Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma assured to take stern action against the people who are behind the blast.
The incident took place around 1.30 pm when a powerful IED exploded near a tea shop situated in the parking lot at Laitumkhrah market.
The wall of the tea shop and window glasses of the adjacent building also got damaged.
The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has claimed responsibility for triggering the blast at the market place.
Addressing media persons after chairing a cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters that the cabinet has strongly condemned the people who are behind the IED blast incident at Laitumkhrah.
“The cabinet has taken a very firm decision that a very strong action will be taken against those who are responsible for this particular blast. We will ensure that all the people who are involved in this particular incident or anybody who is a threat to any citizen of the state will not be spared,” he warned.
When asked if militancy is trying to raise its ugly head again in the state, the chief minister said, “Absolutely not. This is an incident that should not have happened. This is an incident where we have seen it has been preceded by large numbers of extortion being given to people and therefore, it looks more like a racket of extortion that they are trying to create and this is something that we will not allow at all.
“Therefore, there are few people who are trying to do this and I want to assure the citizens of our state that as a government and as police we will take firm action and will ensure safety of the people of the state”.
