Police confirm IED blast in Laitumkhrah; HNLC claims responsibility
Meanwhile, the banned outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has claimed responsibility for the blast with its publicity secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw, posting about the same on Facebook.
Two people were injured when a low-intensity bomb went off at the bustling Laitumkhrah market area in Shillong city on Tuesday. As per reports, the blast occurred at around 1:30 pm near a tea shop in the parking lot ensuing instant panic among the dwellers of the area. Immediately after the explosion, the bomb squad, Crime Scene Unit, and dog squad rushed to the spot to assess the situation and cordoned off the area.
Confirming the blast, Dy. Superintendent of Police (City), East Khasi Hills, Shillong, Banraplang Jyrwa, said, “Yes, an explosion has taken place in Laitumkhrah. However, we cannot divulge more details until the investigation is complete.” Later, a statement issued by the office of the Superintendent of Police, Sylvester Nongtnger, confirmed the blast to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion.
Meanwhile, the banned outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has claimed responsibility for the blast with its publicity secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw, posting about the same on Facebook.
Sources close to the area informed that the impact of the blast shattered window panels of a few nearby houses and created momentary panic in the busy market area. All the shops in the vicinity immediately pulled their shutters down for safety purposes.
Laitumkhrah MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh said that a loud sound was heard across the area in the afternoon, but initially, she wasn’t sure if it was a bomb blast or a transformer had blown up.
"After we heard the explosion, I called the president of the Market Association, who confirmed that it was a bomb blast and not a transformer explosion. We have to wait for the police report to know what exactly happened," she said.
She also informed that two women have sustained minor injuries in the blast. “One woman has inhaled a lot of smoke and the other got several cuts around her hand and feet. The latter has been admitted to Nazareth Hospital for treatment,” she said, adding that with Independence Day around the corner, security has to be beefed up throughout the state.
One of the Rangbah Shnong of Laitumkhrah Pyllun, Andrew A Jyrwa, said that this is the first time Laitumkhrah has witnessed such an incident and the entire Dorbar Shnong condemns it.
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