Two persons were reportedly killed after security forces in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district opened fire to disperse an agitated crowd on Tuesday amid tensions over the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) election nomination process.
West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Abraham T Sangma said the incident took place in the Chibinang area during a clash between tribal and non-tribal groups. He added that the situation was brought under control.
The incident came hours after the Meghalaya government ordered a 24-hour suspension of mobile internet services in the district from March 10 following reports of mobilisation, assaults and circulation of misinformation on social media that could threaten law and order during the nomination process.
Security has also been reinforced at nomination centres as filing of nomination papers for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections will continue till March 16.
The unrest followed the alleged assault of former Phulbari legislator Estamur Momin by protesters on Monday when he arrived at the deputy commissioner’s office in Tura to submit his nomination. Demonstrators had demanded that non-tribals refrain from contesting or participating in the GHADC elections.
On February 17, the executive committee of the GHADC had passed a resolution making it mandatory for candidates to produce valid Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates while filing nominations.
Meanwhile, as per reports, curfew in the West Garo Hills district has been extended from 12 am of March 11 to 12 am of March 13.
West Garo Hills District Magistrate Vibhor Agarwal said, “Upon careful assessment of the situation and reports received from law enforcement agencies, I am satisfied that continuation of stringent preventive measures is necessary to restore normalcy and prevent further escalation of violence.”
