Meghalaya: Bombs hurled at BJP office in Shillong

No casualty was reported in the explosion.

ANI photo

Shillong: Petrol bombs were hurled at the BJP headquarters in Shillong, police said on Monday. No casualty was, however, reported in the explosion which took place on Sunday.

Following the attack, BJP leader Alexander Laloo Hek said, "We condemn any kind of violence. We will write a complaint to the Home Minister to find the culprit and take action."

Meghalaya: Petrol bombs were hurled at BJP head quarters in Shillong yesterday. Alexander Laloo Hek, BJP says," We condemn any kind of violence. We will write a complaint to the Home Minister to find the culprit and take action." pic.twitter.com/O1ZWhtOdXP — ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2019

Notably, the party office was attacked ahead of the North East bandh on Tuesday called by the North East Students Organisation to protest against the prime minister's announcement to pass the Citizenship Bill. The North East Students Organisation is an umbrella organisation of students' bodies of the region.

Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills district, Davis NR Marak said that an investigation has been initiated into the bomb attack.

"Unidentified men attacked the front portion of the office partially damaging it. The incident was reported around midnight last night," BJP state president Shibun Lyngdoh said.

The office does not have CCTVs installed and hence it is up to the police to identify the assailants, he said.

Protests were on in various places of the region over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955. It seeks to grant citizenship to people from minority communities - Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh after six years of residence in India instead of 12 even if they do not possess any proper document.

The Bill has been opposed by a large section of people and organisations in the Northeast.

(With inputs from agencies)