Editor,
What has happened to Garo society? There is chaos and insecurity everywhere. Who is responsible for this predicament? It needs deep introspection by all right thinking individuals. Darkness has engulfed Garo Hills from all .sides. Time has come for collective decision to wipe out the maladies that have befallen the Garo society today. If we remain mute spectators then we might lose our voices completely and not be able to come out from the clutches of social evils which will devour us with dangerous consequences. These days there is rampant killing in Garo Hills. Who gave this license for such killings? Is the Police (Government) encouraging random killing? No one has the right to kill nobody at will. Every criminal whatsoever his crime, has the right to defend himself/herself in a fair trial. An accused is not a criminal unless he/she is tried and convicted by the due process of law. None can be killed on mere suspicion. Security forces too have no’ mandate to kill when a criminal surrenders. Law and religion do not endorse random killing.
What are the root-causes of rampant killing in Garo Hills? If we look back it is due to lawlessness and lack of governance. There are several underground groups that profess to seek Garoland by armed struggle. In reality their main aim is to enrich themselves. The militant outfits are killing their own kith and kin on mere suspicion that they are police informers. They are kidnapping, killing, raping and extorting their own brothers and sisters. No one is safe in Garo Hills today. People have to-dole out their hard earned money to all and sundry. Government officers also feel unsafe and most of them attend office once a month only. Who is responsible for this? Several cases of dacoity, killing and rape are never investigated and perpetrators of those heinous crimes are never convicted. Thugs and killers are roaming scot free. Many teenagers are lured by underground groups with easy money. Several splinter groups of underground factions are deserting the .parent organization and simply forming groups of thugs, killers and looters. In such a scenario the general public are the worst sufferers. Hence people have organized themselves to fight. back. Thus random killing has started and is jeopardizing the very existence of Garo race. This should be stopped at any cost. Let sanity prevail. People have borne atrocities silently for a long time. By killing one another will we get Garoland? If we are united and determined we will achieve Garoland even without violence. Let us choose peaceful and democratic means of protest without killing one another. Wake up Garos. Think wisely. It pains.mv heart to see Garos killing one another in the name of Garoland. Where is the voice of sanity? Why is civil society silent? Where are the intellectuals and thinkers? Where are Church leaders who profess’ universal love and brotherhood? Their silence is strange. Time will come when people will start killing on personal grudge. The trend has already started. Once this happens there will be no way out for Garos to survive. Shall we allow this to happen? Wake up before it is too late. Our motto should be “Live and let live”. Let each day be happy, be free.
Yours etc.,
Sylvester Marak,
Mendipathar
North Garo Hills.