Two persons were killed in police firing on Tuesday after security personnel attempted to disperse the unlawful assembly during curfew hours in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district, the officials said.
With this the tension has been intensified in the region days before the upcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, which is scheduled for April 10. The initial firing happened in Chibinang village, a place where unrest has been witnessed ahead of the clashes between tribal and non-tribal groups, which is linked to the GHADC election process. Furthermore, security forces intervened as a group of people gathered despite the curfew imposed.
Officials said the situation escalated during police intervention, prompting personnel to open fire to disperse the crowd. Two people were fatally injured in the incident, though authorities have yet to disclose their identities.
As the firing took place, the district administration imposed stricter restrictions across the district, enforcing curfew into a full-day clampdown across West Garo Hills, preventing further escalation of violence. Furthermore, additional security forces are also deployed in the area, maintaining law and order.
The curfew was first imposed on Monday night in 37 villages identified as sensitive after several local NGOs protested against the participation of non-tribal candidates in the nomination process for the GHADC elections. Authorities enforced restrictions from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am during the nomination period from March 9 to March 16.
It has also been reported that, hours before the firing, the state government also ordered a 48-hour suspension of mobile data services from midnight, ahead of reports of mobilization, assaults, and circulation of misinformation on social media. Officials said it was necessary to ensure safety during the nomination process. However, voice calls and SMS services were functional.
The peace committee called
A peace committee meeting has been called by Deputy Commissioner Vibhor Aggarwal, scheduled for Tuesday at the Circuit House in Tura. Authorities have invited church leaders, NGO representatives, and local development committees to help ease tensions.
The unrest began after former Phulbari legislator Estamur Mominin was allegedly assaulted by protesters while arriving at the deputy commissioner’s office in Tura to file his nomination for the GHADC elections. Protesters have been demanding that non-tribals be barred from contesting or participating in the polls.
