Non-Tribal Man Stabbed In Shillong, Police Says Not Connected To Earlier Violence

As the Meghalaya capital remained tense after days of violence, a non-tribal man was stabbed in an isolated incident in Shillong’s Mawkhar area on Thursday, police said.

Claudia Lyngwa, Superintendent of Police in East Khasi Hills, said Sanidul Islam, who hailed originally from Assam’s Barpeta was stabbed by two unknown assailants. “He is out of danger now,” said Claudia Lyngwa.

“We have some clues from the CCTV footage of the area,” she said about the incident.

The stabbing incident happened even as the Bara Bazar area in the vicinity was winding up the day’s business after curfew was relaxed only till 1 pm. Mobile internet services have also been resumed in the area.

Ten people, all non-tribals were stabbed in Bara Bazar on February 29 morning. Rupchand Dewan, a tomato seller from Assam Barpeta had died of injuries in the incident, which took place a day after a tribal man was killed in Ichamati area. The violence erupted following a Khasi Students Union meeting against the Citizenship Amendment Act and demanding an inner line permit regime for the state.

“Today’s incident does not seem to be the handiwork of same assailants,” Claudia Lyngwa said citing preliminary investigations into Thursday's stabbing incident.

Meanwhile, as many as 300 migrant workers from neighbouring Assam left Meghalaya on Thursday, Assam Police officials confirmed.

“We evacuated 300 people today,” said GP Singh, Additional DGP, Law and Order, Assam who was closely involved in the exercise. Singh added that if required, they will evacuate more people.  

Ashok Kumar Singhi, a BJP MLA said some locals from his constituency Bilasipara, contacted him on how workers from Assam, who were working in East Khasi Hills, were living in fear. These workers came from different areas including Goalpara, Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts.

“We have been able to get them back safely thanks to Assam Police and Meghalaya Police,” said Singhi.