The recent violence in the Garo Hills areas of Meghalaya has sparked unrest in the northeastern state. According to reports, the authorities not only suspended internet services and imposed a curfew, but also postponed board exams and local council elections in the region.
The unrest comes after two people were killed by police on Tuesday during clashes between tribal and non-tribal groups in connection with the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council elections.
Following the violence, the army was deployed in the area and mobile internet services were suspended in five areas of Garo Hills. Furthermore, a curfew has been imposed in the region until March 13.
Here’s a look at what’s happening in Meghalaya.
Meghalaya Disturbances | Major updates
- Curfew extended until March 13: After two people were killed in police firing, the curfew in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills district has been extended for two days. According to officials, the curfew in the area has been extended until 12 am on March 13.
- Army deployment: According to district officials, five army columns have been deployed in a bid to assist the administration in West Garo Hills. Meanwhile, three columns were stationed in Tur and two more in Chipinang, the area where two people were killed by police gunfire. A district official told news agency PTI that Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel and additional state police forces have also been deployed at sensitive locations across the Garo Hills district.
- Disconnecting internet services: While no fresh violence was reported in the area, officials announced that suspension of mobile internet services would remain suspended in five Garo Hills districts. Suspension has been requested in West Jaro Hills, East Jaro Hills, South Jaro Hills, North Jaro Hills and South West Jaro Hills until further notice.
- CM says ‘not to leave home’ amid attack threat: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has been advised to move to a safer place amid the unrest in Garo Hills. However, the Prime Minister announced that he would not leave. Sangma, who also belongs to the Garo community, called for peace and said he was not afraid amid threats of a possible mob attack on his home and family in Tora. However, the Prime Minister said he would not leave. He said, “Based on this information and in accordance with my security protocol, I was advised to move to another place. But I did not leave, and I did not agree to move, because I am not afraid.”
- Postponing the Council elections: In the wake of the violence in Garo Hills, CM Sangma announced that the assembly elections in the district have been postponed. In a video message, the Meghalaya leader said the elections, which were scheduled to be held on April 10, are now postponed until law and order is restored.
- Postponing the twelfth grade exams: In view of the unrest, the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) has postponed the board examinations for Class 12 students which were scheduled to be conducted on March 11 and 12. said Lalu of the State Council.
What caused the disturbances?
Violence broke out in Jarrow Hills after objections were raised in the area over the participation of non-Jaro communities in the nomination process for local body elections.
GHADC elections are held to elect representatives of the Garo tribe. The council represents the tribe under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. However, despite this, many non-Jaro members were allowed to participate in the electoral process if they were eligible voters.
The unrest began on Monday after former Phulbari lawmaker Astamur Momin was assaulted by protesters when he arrived at the deputy commissioner’s office in Tura to file his nomination for the GHADC elections.
Demonstrators in the region are demanding that non-tribes not be allowed to compete in the elections.
Amid the agitation, the Meghalaya High Court also quashed the notification issued by the GHADC that made Scheduled Tribes certificates mandatory for the election nomination process. However, according to the state Supreme Court, the notification was quashed because it “bypassed legislative procedures.”
Disposing of the writ petition, the court said, “The notification could not pass legal scrutiny and was set aside and set aside.”
