Suspected IED blast in Shillong, no casualities

SHILLONG, JAN 30:  A suspected improvised explosive devise (IED) bomb exploded at Khyndai Lad in the heart of Shillong city on Sunday.

The incident took place at around 6.15 pm near a mobile shop opposite the MUDA shoppling complex, police said.

There was no casaulty reported during the blast as very few people had ventured out in the area, they said.

Most of the shops also remain closed on Sunday in compliance with the order passed by the district administration in view of the surge in the COVID-19 cases in the city.

Police immediately swung into action and cordoned off the area. Bomb squads also rushed to the spot to investigate the explosion.

Nobody was arrested so far.

Speaking to journalists, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvester Nongtnger said that the bomb squads are still on the job to investigate into the matter.

“Bomb squads are still on the job to analyse the situation, we can’t say  but some kind of blast is there,” he said.

When asked, there was no people around during the incident.

Meanwhile, people who were present when the incident took place said that the blast was so powerful that it shattered the glasses of vehicles pared nearby and even destroyed a nearby wall.

Till filing of this report, nobody has claimed responsibility on the incident.

Last year, the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) had triggered an IED blast at the police reserve at Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills District on July 14.

Another IED blast at Laitumkhrah market took place on August 10, 2021. The explosive weighing 1.524 kg of high explosives gelatine, injured two people.

This was followed by the outfit planting a 5kg IED infront of the gate of the NPP office at Lachumiere on October 4, 2021.

By Our Reporter