Three persons, one at Maraikaphon and two at Mawkisyiem in the Sohra region, hailing from Laitlyngkot region, died since Tuesday after they were lynched by villagers who accused them of being menshohnoh or those who worship U Thlen (a mythical serpent) in the hope of acquiring wealth.
“If peace is to prevail, the administration has to take stern action against those who brutally killed our people in the two localities. The heartless slaying of the trio, Timingstar Khongsit at Maraikaphon and Warless Nongrum and Batskhem Rynjah at Mawkisyiem is totally condemnable and unacceptable,” Iengskhem Nongkynrih, headman of Mawkneng locality under Nongkynrih, told reporters after a meeting with East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Jopthiaw Lyngdoh.
He also said the villagers are still angry with the incidents. “The people from Sohra should publicly admit their fault, which led to the brutal killings,” Nongkynrih added.
The deputy commissioner along with East Khasi Hills superintendent of police A.R. Mawthoh met the village elders of Laitlyngkot-Nongkynrih area to calm down the situation and to avoid any possible backlash against the people from Sohra area.
“We want to ensure that no backlash takes place following the unfortunate killing of the trio. We have also requested the village elders to speak to the villagers and to ask them not to take the law into their own hands,” Lyngdoh said.
A meeting with the elders of Sohra and those from Laitlyngkot-Nongkynrih area under the banner of peace committee has also been convened on Monday to diffuse tension, Lyngdoh added.
The superintendent of police said the law will take its own course against the perpetrators.
Yesterday, a court had remanded 10 people in seven-day police custody after they were arrested for their alleged involvement in the brutal killing of Khongsit.
Mawthoh said the police had ascertained the involvement of the 10 people before they were finally arrested. “We did not randomly arrest them. They were apprehended based on strong evidence,” he said.
On the Mawkisyiem incident, Mawthoh said a case has been registered and the culprits will be brought to book within the next few days.
On reports that a “compromise” has been reached between the perpetrators and the victims’ families, Mawthoh said the police will pursue the case notwithstanding the reported reconciliation.
He also said as the people from Laitlyngkot area had expressed fear of going to the weekly Sohra market in view of the incidents, additional police personnel will be deployed especially during market days.
“We are hopeful for a peaceful settlement to ensure that such unfortunate incidents do not reoccur. We are also trying our best to calm our people down so that no backlash takes place,” I. Riwan, secretary of Madan Lyngdoh, Nongkynrih said.
According to police, rumours about the presence of cut-throats started doing the rounds after the disappearance of a mentally challenged person from Mawmluh village near Sohra, and the death of a pilot, Mark Gautam Reddy Lynrah, who had gone missing from Sohra since August 18. Lynrah’s body was recovered from a gorge in Sohra on August 27.