Shillong Apr 19: The Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) strongly condemned the petrol bomb attack on the house of editor of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim.

“This act is an attempt to intimidate the press and violently suppress a dissenting voice. TUR also notes with concern that this petrol bomb attack is not an aberration but comes in a series of Petrol Bomb attacks on homes of people in Shillong North constituency or people’s houses as part of political campaigns. This criminal violence to intimidate and silence political and ideological opponents has to be opposed. The forces, leaders and groups that indulge in such actions have to be exposed and held accountable,” it said.

TUR urges the law enforcement agencies to conduct quick investigations to bring the culprits to book.

“Their failure to apprehend criminals who have been petrol bombing in Shillong in recent past has provided impunity to these criminals to continue in their dastardly acts. As citizens we have to be vigilant against the politics which believes in criminal intimidation rather than persuasion, deliberation and argumentation,” the statement said.

The Civil Society Women Organization, (CSWO) also strongly condemned the attack and demanded a thorough investigation to nail the persons behind this act.

“These acts are acts of terror and trying to silence the voice of the media cannot be accepted by a civilized society. The hurling of petrol bomb to cause harm and to terrorize someone, should be taken seriously by the Government and the perpetrators should be arrested and booked as per law,” the CSWO said.