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In Meghalaya's West Garo Hills, violence erupted in the lead-up to the GHADC elections, claiming two lives. The spark was a contentious rule mandating Scheduled Tribe certificates for candidates, igniting protests against non-tribal involvement. In response, the Army was deployed, and internet services were halted as officials scrambled to restore calm.
Guwahati/Shillong: Two persons were killed in communal clashes between Garo tribal and non-tribals in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills late on Monday over the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections.The district administration extended an already imposed curfew, suspended mobile internet and called in the Army on Tuesday afternoon.Chief minister Conrad Sangma visited the Phulbari area and interacted with various community leaders and appealed for the maintenance of peace and communal harmony. The CM instructed the district deputy commissioner to convene peace committee meetings.“The unrest is understood to have arisen from protests by certain organizations opposing the candidature of non-tribal individuals in the GHADC elections,” the West Garo Hills district administration late Tuesday evening issued a statement.
The law-and-order situation in the district turned violent after a notification by the NPP-led Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) mandated candidates to produce valid Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates while filing nomination papers for the April 10 elections, unlike earlier, when non-tribals too could participate.Tensions escalated when former Phulbari legislator S G Esmatur Mominin, a Bengali-speaking Muslim, was allegedly assaulted while arriving at the deputy commissioner’s office in Tura on Monday to submit his papers.
Mominin, accompanied by fellow aspirant Enamul Haque, faced resistance from groups opposing non-tribal participation in the polls, sparking clashes that quickly spiralled into unrest.Police and security personnel promptly intervened, secured him, provided medical attention, and escorted him to safety.Filing of nominations for the elections will continue till March 16, while scrutiny of nomination papers is scheduled for March 17.“Following the incident, a tense standoff continued throughout the night between groups from the hill areas and the plains belt in Chibinang area,” the statement said, adding that two persons were found dead during the unrest.The authorities said that the identities of the dead are yet to be confirmed and “the exact cause of death remains unknown at this stage” and will be determined after post-mortem examinations are conducted.Two columns of Army were deployed on Tuesday morning and staged a flag march at Chibinang, the epicentre of the Monday night clash also marked by arson reported from several places, including district headquarter Tura, where vehicles were torched and stones pelted.Defence PRO Lt Col M Rawat said Army columns were deployed on the request of civil administration, and they have conducted flag marches.“In Tura, reports were received of vandalism in a few locations and incidents of arson at several places.
Fire and emergency services responded swiftly and brought the fires under control. No fatalities have been reported from the Tura area,” the statement added.In response to the situation, the district administration convened a peace meeting with religious leaders, senior citizens, and representatives of civil society organizations, including the Mothers’ Union.District SP Abraham T. Sangma said, “The law-and-order situation at Chibanang area is under control with the army staging a flag march.
We have also deployed CRPF troopers to assist the state machinery to quell the situation.”Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) is under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in India. It is seated at Tura and covers East Garo Hills district, West Garo Hills district, South Garo Hills district, North Garo Hills district and Southwest Garo Hills district. It is one of the three Autonomous District Councils within Meghalaya
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