Meghalaya deputy speaker's vehicle set afire

Shillong -  An official vehicle of Meghalaya Assembly Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai was set on fire by arsonists Tuesday, even as the government stepped up security arrangements ahead of a two-day road blockade beginning Wednesday.

Superintendent of Police (Shillong City) Mariahom Kharkrang said the vehicle was set on fire by two unidentified youth at Jaiaw Pdeng after pouring petrol inside the vehicle.

"No one was injured in the attack but a manhunt is on to nab the arsonists," Kharkrang told IANS.

Shullai, who was not in the vehicle at that time, said a complaint has been lodged by his driver and his personal security officer with the police.

On Monday, unidentified arsonists went on rampage hurling petrol bombs on a government vehicle, a truck and a cowshed after a public rally against the inclusion of doubtful voters in the electoral rolls.

Meanwhile, security has been stepped up in Khasi and Jaintia Hills in eastern part of Meghalaya ahead of two day-night road blockade from 8 p.m to 5 a.m Wednesday, sponsored by three influential social organisations - the Khasi Students Union, the Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People and the Hynñiewtrep National Youth Front demanding deletion names of doubtful voters from the electoral rolls.

National Highways No.40 and 44, the lifelines for landlocked Mizoram, Tripura and parts of Manipur and southern Assam, are likely to be affected by the road blockade.

Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh, who convened an emergency meeting with senior officials from the home, and election department, took stock of the prevailing law and order situation and the arrangements made by the district administration to deal with the road blockade called by the three organisations.

“All security arrangements have been drawn to thwart any outbreak of law and order situation and any person found disturbing peace and order will be dealt firmly as per the law of the land,”

Meghalaya Director General of Police N. Ramachandran told IANS.

Meanwhile, Lyngdoh also appealed to the agitating organisations to take recourse to avenues provided under the law and not to resort to agitation, which causes immense hardship to the general public.