SHILLONG: A potential incident of mob violence was narrowly averted this morning in the Lawmei locality of the Diengiei area, after police officers rescued a man who was detained and suspected by villagers of being a ‘menshohnoh‘ (ritual killer).
The incident unfolded at around 8:00 AM after the Lumdiengjri Police Station and Special Operations Team (SOT) received information from the Headman of Lawmei that a large crowd had gathered, intent on lynching a detained individual.
Officers immediately rushed to the scene and successfully rescued the suspect, identified as Nicolas Lyngkhoi (39), a resident of Mawshynrut. Lyngkhoi had been held for safekeeping by village elders at the Lawmei Community Hall prior to the police’s arrival.
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Mistaken Identity Due to Weather
Upon questioning, Lyngkhoi explained that he works as a tree feller in a forest near Umiam. He stated that he had left Umiam around 9:00 PM on October 15 with the intention of spending the night at a relative’s house in Umthlong, Sohiong.
However, due to the cold weather, he abandoned the plan upon reaching Lawmei and instead decided to spend the night in one of the local sheds. Early this morning, around 6:00 AM, the shed owner discovered him, began taking photographs, and alerted neighbours, leading to the rapid gathering of the mob fuelled by suspicion.
The rescued man was taken to the Lumdiengjri Police Station and subsequently sent for a medical examination at Civil Hospital, Shillong. The medical report indicated that he had sustained only minor injuries.
Local authorities continue to appeal for calm and have urged citizens to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, emphasizing the need to immediately report suspicious activity to the police rather than resorting to vigilantism.
