Meghalaya Violence: Meghalaya has been grappling with tensions after two people were killed in police firing during a clash between tribal and non-tribal people on Tuesday. The unrest led to curfew and internet suspension in the area in five Garo Hills districts. The state authorities have imposed the curfew restrictions till March 13 to monitor the situation.
What Are the Latest Developments?
Internet Banned, Places Under Surveillance
The death of two people in police firing had led to the extension of the curfew for two days. According to the officials, curfew has been extended until 12 am on March 13. To monitor the volatile situation, five sections of the Army have been deployed in parts of West Garo Hills. Additionally, three columns have been positioned in Tur and two others in Chbinang, the area where two people were killed in police firing. Personnel of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and additional state police forces have also been deployed at sensitive locations across the Garo Hills region, PTI quoted a district official as saying.
The communal unrest has also triggered internet suspension in five districts of the Garo Hills. The ban has been initiated in West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, North Garo Hills, and Southwest Garo Hills.
Council Elections And Exams Postponed
Amid the unrest in Garo Hills, Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma declared that the council elections in the district have been postponed. In a video message, the Meghalaya leader said the elections, which were set for April 10, now stand postponed until law and order is restored.
Amid the districtwide violence, the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) has also postponed board exams for Class 12 students, which were scheduled for March 11 and 12. "The HSSLC examinations, scheduled for March 11 (Music) and March 12 (Anthropology), stand cancelled for West Garo Hills only. The same will be rescheduled for some other dates, to be notified later," Director of Accreditation and Controller of Examinations TR Laloo of the state board said.
What Led To The Protest
The unrest occurred following objections raised in the district about the participation of non-Garo communities in the nomination process for the local elections. The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections are held to appoint the representatives of the Garo tribe. The council represents the tribe under the Sixth Schedule of the constitution. Even as this mandate is non-negotiable, several non-Garo members have been allowed to participate in the electoral process if they are eligible voters.
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The violence broke out on Monday after former Phulbari legislator Estamur Momin was allegedly assaulted by protesters when he reached the deputy commissioner’s office in Tura to file his nomination for the GHADC polls.
Agitators have been demanding that non-tribals should not be allowed to contest in the elections.
In view of the violence, the Meghalaya High Court also struck down a notification issued by the GHADC that made Scheduled Tribe certificates compulsory for the nomination process in the elections. However, as per the state high court, the notification was struck down as it "bypassed legislative procedures."