Meghalaya Police Book Two-Wheeler Riders for Attempted Murder of IPS Officer in Shillong

Meghalaya Police have registered a case of attempted murder against unidentified two-wheeler riders who allegedly struck and seriously injured an Indian Police Service officer during a road check in Shillong early on Friday.

The officer, Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Lovish Garg, was conducting a check in the Urkaliar area of the Meghalaya capital around 1.30 a.m. when the two-wheeler approached, according to a statement issued by Dangsan Khyriem, Superintendent of Police (City), East Khasi Hills district. Shillong serves as the headquarters of the district.

According to the police account, the two men on the vehicle attempted to evade the check and moved aggressively. When Mr. Garg signalled them to stop, they accelerated and hit him instead. He was taken to a private hospital, where he remained under observation after undergoing a minor surgery.

The two riders were taken into custody, but their identities have not been disclosed. Investigators suspect they are members of the Khasi Students' Union (KSU), a pressure group with a past record of violence.

"The circumstances indicate that the act was deliberate and appears to have been intended to cause grievous injury to the officer and escape from being checked," the police statement said, adding that the motive for the riders' movement at that hour and their attempt to flee the check point was being examined through a thorough investigation.

A case under the attempt-to-murder provisions has been registered at the police station concerned. Police said road checks would continue for public safety and to maintain law and order, and warned that attempts to evade such checks or obstruct personnel on duty would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The incident comes amid heightened security and intensified road checks across Shillong following a series of petrol bomb attacks targeting government and police infrastructure. The attacks are alleged to be aimed at pressuring the government to release at least six KSU leaders held in connection with violence during a protest bike rally on August 19.

During that rally, participants wearing masks and riding motorcycles with covered registration plates went on the rampage, assaulting bystanders with sticks and iron rods, smashing the windows and lights of vehicles, and setting one vehicle on fire. A majority of the 31 vehicles targeted were registered in Assam, and many of those assaulted were non-locals and non-tribal people.

The violence triggered a backlash in Assam, where taxi associations prevented Meghalaya-registered vehicles from entering the State. A high-level meeting between stakeholders of the two States helped resolve the crisis after a few days.