By Our Reporter
Shillong: With the creation of the new district of North Garo Hills, the people of that area have called for peace and tranquility while asking the State Government to restore peace and normalcy in the newly created district.
Amongst the local organisations, the United Christian Peace Forum (UCPF) in North Garo Hills district has turned to the State Government seeking its intervention by introducing new strategies to tackle the law and order situation in the ‘once most peaceful village’ in the State.
The North Garo Hills district with its headquarters in Resubelpara was formally carved out of East Garo Hills on July 27 last.
However, the people in the new district feel that the ‘once most peaceful area’ in Meghalaya has been ravaged by killings, extortions, kidnappings, bandhs and all kinds of anti social activities created by insurgent forces in and around North Garo Hills.
With an aim to air their needs of peace and tranquility in the district, the UCPF recently organised a silent rally making an appeal to all teachers and parents to show equal love to their children so that they will feel loved, wanted and satisfied in their homes.
Attended by thousands of people including students, the rally also appealed the State Government to seek the ‘lost sons’ of the State while asking the government officers to say abstain from ‘corruption’ to prevent the younger generation from expressing their anger in the form of violence.
“Since, corruption is the root of all evil, government officials besides others should say ‘no to corruption’ so that younger generation will refrain from taking all wrong decisions like going to the jungle and take up arms,” the UCPF mentioned during the rally.
The rally was attended by the GSU, Mothers’ Union, FAF, JAC, Auto Associations, Merchants’ Association, Government Secondary School Teachers’ Association, LP Teachers’ Associations, All head of institutions, school and college students, village headmen, Church leaders and all concerned citizens.
Special peace messages were delivered by Rev. Alpha Sengbha D Marak and Rev. Greater Burn R Marak, from the central UCPF, Tura.
Before starting the meeting the UCPF offered a thanks giving prayer for creation of the new district.
The special peace message delivered by Rev Alpha Marak explained the abbreviation of PEACE sating that it stands for eradicating all evils of society like kidnapping, extortion, killings, etc. through actions. Peace never comes by itself, someone must work for it, he said.
Another message delivered by Rev. Greater Marak from the central UCPF Tura, dwelt on the ‘river of life sanctuary’ by quoting from the Bible – Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.
The UCPF also wrote a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma to find a speedy remedy for this troublesome new district, and submitted the copy to the new Deputy Commissioner of North Garo Hills, Wilfred Khyllep, who conveyed his goodwill messages to the people where two district magistrates were also present. A copy was forwarded to the new SP of the district, Aditya Goenka.
