Mobile internet restored in Garo Hills, curfew extended in West

Shillong: Mobile internet data services were restored across the five districts of Meghalaya’s Garo Hills region on March 18, a week after they were suspended following widespread unrest and violence in West Garo Hills that left two people dead.The violence had erupted over protests against the participation of non-tribals in elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), forcing the state govt to postpone the tribal council polls scheduled for April 10 as the law and order situation deteriorated across the region.So far, around 29 suspects, including a former GHADC member, have been arrested for their alleged role in inciting communal conflict over the election issue.

In a notification issued on Wednesday, the home (political) department said the March 11 order suspending internet services in West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, North Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills had been revoked with immediate effect.The restoration of internet services brought relief across the region, where businesses, students and institutions had been hit hard by the shutdown. Opposition parties had also criticized the govt and demanded that the ban be lifted.

Curfew in West Garo Hills, however, remains in force. The district administration, which had relaxed curfew from 6 am to 6 pm on March 18, extended it further from 6am on March 19 to 6am on March 20 to “restore normalcy and prevent further escalation of violence”.“However, there will be a relaxation from 6 am to 6 pm on March 19 in the entire district to facilitate public movement and regular activities,” district magistrate Vibhor Agarwal said in his order today.