Our Bureau
Shillong/TURA: The State government on Tuesday announced ex-gratia of R.3 lakh each for the next of kin of eight migrant coal miners killed by unidentified assailants in a clod blood inside coal quarries in Nongalbibra region.
The coal mine owners had also given Rs1 lakh each to the next of kin of the victims.
On Sunday night, eight migrant coal miners were killed and three wounded at Garegittim and Nongalbibra areas in South Garo Hills district when a group of unidentified assailants went on the rampage.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the eight slain labourers were handed over to their families through the Assam government at Damra police outpost on Tuesday morning.
South Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner C P Gothmare along with magistrates and senior police officials escorted the bodies to Damra and handed them over to a Assam government team led by Goalpara Deputy Commissioner.
“The atmosphere was calm and cordial when we handed over the bodies and the local MLA from West Goalpara constituency was also present,” said Gothmare while speaking to The Shillong Times.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up following the handing over of the bodies to Assam. Patrolling has been intensified and additional forces put in place at sensitive locations of Garo Hills, particularly North and West Garo Hills districts which share a porous inter-state border with Assam’s Dhubri and Goalpara districts.
“We have taken all necessary steps to check any untoward incidents from taking place and a close contact is being kept with the Assam police from Krishnai and Damra outposts,” said a senior police official from North Garo Hills district headquarters Resubelpara.
Meanwhile, steps are being taken from the public side to maintain peace. Hundreds of people, including student leaders, church elders and village headmen, took part in a peace rally from Pattargittim to Nangalbibra condemning the attack on the coal labourers. They called for peace and return of normalcy to the region.
Rumour mongers shutdown Tura: Meanwhile, false reports of attacks and large public gatherings have affected normalcy in Tura and some areas in the plain belt region of Garo Hills.
Rumours about an upcoming public rally forced many traders to down shutters in Tura fearing trouble. It was later found to be false. The district administration has urged people not to fall prey to rumours but to cross check with the authorities. The administration was compelled to hold public announcements following the sudden closure of shops in the town. There had been rumours about miscreants torching a rice laden truck enroute to Garo Hills and attack on a Sumo coming towards Rajabala. All these were found to be false.