TMC leader, 20 others held for attack on Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma

As of 7.30 pm on Tuesday, 21 people had been arrested in connection with the incident, which includes workers of both the TMC and the BJP. While the TMC is in the opposition in the state, the BJP is part of the coalition government with Sangma’s NPP.

BJP state president Ernest Mawrie on Tuesday condemned the incident, saying the party has constituted a committee to confirm whether its members or office-bearers are among those held, following which disciplinary action will be taken.

“If they are involved, it is in their individual capacity,” he said.

Police said Marak was found to be directly involved in Monday’s attack, in which a mob hurled stones at the Mini Secretariat in Tura while Sangma was conducting a meeting inside the building with representatives of different Garo civil society organisations.

Bishnoi said Tura police came to the conclusion that it was a pre-planned attack because they found that money as well as alcohol had been distributed to locals the day before the meeting.

“They gathered clinching evidence that money was distributed on July 23 to some of the youths to create a scene at the site. On the same day, many bottles of liquor were distributed to the youth and many came with plastic jerrycans full of kerosene, matchboxes, lighters, etc,” he said.