Tura, Aug 09: The numbers of arrests in connection with the mob violence in Tura on July 24, 2023 has climbed to 50 people with the arrest of Dominic A Sangma on Wednesday.
39-year-old Dominic A. Sangma is the son of Kadot Marak, and a resident to Williampur in West Garo Hills.
The mob violence took place on July 24, 2023, outside the CM’s mini secretariat in Tura at around 7.30 PM with the violence spreading to other parts of Tura town later. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma was having a peaceful meeting with NGOs and pressure groups that were on indefinite hunger strike, when vested interest groups gheraoed and began pelted stones at CM’s Mini Secretariat (also referred to as CMO Tura). As the security personnel tried to defend the CMO Tura, 18 of them were injured. Left with no resort against an overwhelming unruly mob, police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse them.
This stand-off went on for over 3 hours before the area could be cleared. However, when the injured police personnel were being taken to Tura Civil hospital in an ambulance, their vehicle was fiercely attacked by a group of miscreants. Timely arrival of reinforcements ensured that the security personnel did not receive further harm and were safely taken to the hospital.
While all this unfolded, CM Sangma stayed inside the Mini Secretariat, overseeing the situation. The Mini Secretariat had been turned into a control room, with the CM getting all the intel and situation updates. He went back to his residence only by 9:50 PM when the situation had calmed down.
Since the incident, police have made 50 arrests, as of August 09, 2023. 36 arrests had been made within 48 hours of the incident with most of key suspects affiliated to major political parties.
The incident had prompted a massive investigation, and the action thereafter showcased West Garo Hills police’s immense capacity and efforts invested in identifying and apprehending the suspects involved in the attack.
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