Non-local workers attacked in Meghalaya, 4th case in 4 months

Labourers engaged in the redevelopment work of JN Stadium in Shillong were attacked after checking their papers

Is the law and order situation in complete disarray in the northeastern state of Meghalaya? Has the Conrad Sangma-led NPP government failed to control those creating violence in the state? Well, questions are being asked as incidents of non-local workers being assaulted is on the rise. Four such incidents have been reported in four months since March this year.

In the most recent incident, few labourers, including a technician, were assaulted at the JN Stadium at Polo Grounds, Shillong, last evening. The labourers were working at the redevelopment work of the stadium which is set to host the prestigious Durrand Cup scheduled to be held next month.

As per reports, the individuals who attacked the workers, checked the trade licenses and identity documents of the labourers before assaulting them.

This recent incident has triggered panic among the workers who are from outside Meghalaya and are working in different projects in the state. They are now wanting to leave Meghalaya at the earliest.

This incident is fourth such attack since March this year.

On March 27 this year the Ichamati twin murders rocked the state when two persons- Ishan Singh and Sujit Dutta- were killed in two separate incidents in Ichamati and Dalda.

On April 10, a 52-year-old labourer died after being attacked by unidentified miscreants in Mawlai.

On April 18, three charred bodies were found in unmarked shallow graves in East Garo Hills. The deceased were identified as Jamar Ali, Zahidul Islam and Noor Ahmed, and they were residents of the Dolguma area in Assam’s Goalpara.

At a time when Meghalaya is trying to build itself as a tourist destination and attract investments and business, such incidents threaten to tarnish its image.

Asked about the incident, Meghalaya Tourism Minister and MDA spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh said, “Good sense should always prevail because whether it is the government, or the opposition or the NGOs, we all are trying to uplift the state and enable us to live to our full potential. We all need all to act responsibly.”

It may be mentioned here that earlier this week, four heavily mutilated, decomposed bodies were recovered in a forest on the outskirts of Umpleng village.

Three of the four persons have been identified so far and among them, two are from Nepal and one is a localite and their bodies have been handed over to the next of kin.

The two from Nepal have been idenified as 23-year-old Ravi Rai and 26-year-old Rajesh Rai, while the local person has been identified as 33-year-old Nazar Kyndait.

Police sources informed Northeast Live that the four people were killed because of their alleged involvement in a suspected drug-related case, however, the incident is still being investigated by the police to identify the killers.

Also Read: Was Meghalaya’s Niksamseng Ch Marak murdered at rehab centre in Goalpara? CM Sangma seeks Assam CM’s intervention into the probe

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