Slillong, Dec 14: The state police have categorically denied that there was firing incident during the rally organized by the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organization (CoMSO) in front of the Raj Bhavan on Friday.

“There was no such firing incident during the rally, and that all force personnel were equipped with Anti-Riot equipment comprising of lathi/cane and stunt shells only,” East Khasi Hills superintendent of police Claudia A Lyngwa said in a statement issued here on Saturday.

She said it has come to the notice of the police department that some people with vested interests have been spreading rumours that some people who were part of the protest rally organized by the CoMSO had received bullet injuries and that some have also died due to the same.

The SP however informed that there was only one person with grievous injury which was due to the fact that he fell from the top of a wall and a sharp iron grill had pierced his abdomen.

“The medical report had clearly indicated there are no traces of bullet found and no exit wound found,” she said.

According to her, such baseless allegations are nothing but rumours by certain individuals who are taking undue advantage of the situation.

Stating that the department is taking serious note of such rumours, the SP said that the police will ensure that such rumour mongers are identified and booked under relevant sections of law for spreading such false, baseless and dangerous rumours.

A rally by a crowd of nearly a lakh people on Friday turned ugly as protesters and the police clashed in front of the Raj Bhavan forcing the police to resort to lathi charge and firing tear gas leaving several persons including police personnel injured in the clashes.

A fire truck parked a few meters away from the main entrance of the Raj Bhavan was also vandalised while another car belonging to the Nehru Yuva Kendra, parked about 200 meters from the Raj Bhavan was set on fire.

The protesters were demanding the Governor to give his assent to the proposed ordinance that seeks mandatory registration of outsiders entering the state and at the same time for the Centre to implement the Inner Line Permit in the state.

The strong crowds had tried to storm the Raj Bhavan and in the melee many were caught forcing the police to resort to lathi charge and firing several rounds of tear gases to disperse them.