Meghalaya dy speaker's car torched by agitators

The official vehicle of the Meghalaya assembly deputy speaker were torched and many shops were burnt allegedly by NGO activists as their protest against 'continued enrolment' of doubtful voters in the state entered the second day today.

The police said the SUV of Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai was set on fire by the agitators at Jaiaw here at about noon today.

Shullai was not in the car but the driver and his personal security officer managed to flee, the sources said.

Many shops were ransacked and some non-indigenous residents were beaten up in Burabazar in the city last night while petrol bombs were lobbed at Garikhana and Laitumkhrah while a hay stack was set on fire at Nongmynsong, the said.

The NGO activists had also burnt two vehicles -- a government vehicle and a truck -- in the city yesterday.

The first vehicle was torched within minutes of a rally convened by four prominent NGOs ended in the capital.

The four NGOs were Khasi Students Union, the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People, the Synjuk Seng Samla Shnong and the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front.

Security in and around the city, particularly vulnerable areas, were tightened in view of the agitation of the NGOs, Director General of Police N  Ramachandran told PTI.

Ramachandran had met Governor R S Mooshahary last night and briefed him about the law and order situation in the state and in the city in particular, Raj Bhavan sources said.

Administration of East Khasi Hills district, under which Shillong falls, had taken serious note of the NGOs' stir and necessary precautions would be be taken, Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said.

The NGOs had threatened to intensify stir against the enrolment of doubtful voters in the state and demanded steps to ensure that migrants and foreign nationals did not get voting rights.

They also announced a two-night road blockade in four districts of Khasi Jaintia Hills from April 25.

The NGOs claimed election officials in Meghalaya have detected several "dubious entries" in the electoral roll but could not take action due to "political pressure".