Shillong July 22: The district administration of South West Garo Hills has promulgated Section 144 CrPC in Mahendraganj area on Monday till 8 am of Tuesday after a breakdown of law and order in the area where angry mob gheraoed the police station and pelted stones which resulted in damage of many official vehicles, including a fire tender of the Meghalaya Fire &Emergency Service.

The prohibitory order is in force till Tuesday 8 am.

According to a statement issued by Meghalaya Assistant Inspector General of Police (A), G.K. Iangrai, on Sunday night at around 8 pm, a person of unsound mind identified as Ahidul lalam, around 35 years, attempted to attack the general public with a dao at Nadichar under Mahendraganj Police Station.

“When police got the information, they immediately rushed to the spot to thwart the attempt of the person. However, the person also attacked the police personnel and officers who were trying to stop him from inflicting any casualty on the general public. In the process of trying to catch hold of the person, one of the police personnel dropped his service rifle and while trying to recover his rifle, he fell into the river,” Iangrai said.

He said that after this, Ahidul Islam grabbed the service rifle and started running away from the spot, after which, Sub Inspector, E.R. Marak, who was present there, resorted to blank shooting to deter the person from carrying away the service rifle and from fleeing away.

However Iangrai said that rumors spread that police had fired at Ahidul Islam, which resulted in people converging at Mahendraganj Police Station on Monday at around 11am, and gheraoed the Police Station.

Iangrai said that the crowd pelted stones which resulted in damage of many official vehicles, including a fire tender of the Meghalaya F&ES and a government Bolero.

“In order to avert any further deterioration of law and order, the District Administration has promulgated Section 144 CrPC in Mahendraganj areas. At present the situation is under control and adequate forces have been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident,” he said.

Stating that the situation is currently being superintended by gazetted officers, who have been directed to camp in the area, Iangrai urged the public to maintain peace and tranquility, and not to take the law in their own hands.

“All efforts are being put in to locate Ahidul Islam and two cases have been registered at Mahendraganj police station,” he said.