The Meghalaya police has registered a criminal case into the reported IED blast at Sookilo under Sutnga Elaka in East Jaintia Hills district, following the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC)’s claim.
“A criminal case under Khliehriat Police Station has been registered and investigation of the case is in progress to establish the asseveration made by the general secretary cum publicity secretary of the proscribed militant organisation HNLC regarding the incident,” Assistant Inspector General of Police (A), Gabriel K Iangrai said in a statement issued on Saturday.
On Friday, the banned outfit had claimed responsibility for planting IED bomb blast at Sookilo market after the Dolloi of the elaka has failed to pay heed to its warnings against illegal activities including prostitution and gambling.
Iangrai said that information was received from the headman of Sookilo village on November 26, to the effect that the inhabitants of the village heard an explosion sound at around 3.20 am.
On identifying the place of occurrence by the villagers/shopkeepers, it was found that one comestible shop located at Sookilo market was completely destroyed as a consequence of the explosion, and debris were also seen scattered all over the market area.
He said the Superintendent of Police and other senior officers of the district immediately rushed to the scene of crime, and with the assistance of the bomb detection and disposal squad cordoned the explosion site and conducted the post blast investigation procedures.
According to him, there were no casualties reported and the impact created by the explosion were seen to have caused only minor damages to the adjoining shops.
