Meghalaya: Shillong Times Editor Patricia Mukhim provided armed guards

The Editor of English daily The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim was today provided armed security guards by the police in the wake of hurling of a petrol bomb by unidentified men at her residence on Tuesday.

The police also ordered a tight vigil near her residence here.

The journalist, who was awarded Padma Shri in 2000 for her work in the fields of social justice and women's empowerment, was home when two men on a motorcycle stopped by her residence and lobbed the bomb at her house on Tuesday.

"Two armed guards have been given to Mukhim based on the current threat perception," a senior police officer told PTI.

He said the journalist had earlier filed an FIR with the district police after one person had issued death threat to her on Facebook.

While no arrest has been in this case, the police are looking at possible clues to solve the case, the officer said.

State Home Minister James K Sangma said, "Adequate security has been provided to the Editor in view of the incident on Tuesday."

He said police patrolling in and around her residence at Umpling locality in the city has been ordered to ensure that a sense of security prevails in that area.

Earlier today, journalists and Shillong Press Club member staged a silent march in the city in protest against the attack on Mukhim.

Carrying placards condemning the incident, journalists from all over the state participated in the march from the Shillong Press Club to the Raj Bhavan Secretariat.