TURA: With less than a day remaining for the annual 100-Drum Wangala Festival, the pro-ILP groups in Garo Hills have kept night road blockade scheduled to begin from Tuesday, abeyance.
“In view of the 100-Drum Wangala Festival we have decided not to go ahead with our agitation,” the GSU president, Tengsak G Momin said over phone.
Dorbar defies pro-ILP groups’ diktat: After its request to the pro-ILP groups to desist from declaring the night road blockade from November 5-7 fell on deaf ears, the Dorbar Shnong of Ladthalaboh, Jowai announced that the blockade will not be effective in the area, our Jowai correspondent adds. The Dorbar, in an emergency executive committee meeting here on Monday, decided to oppose the night road blockade which it felt will affect the fete to be organized at the Marian Hills Higher Secondary School from November 5-7 in order to raise funds for the Dorbar Shnong.
President, Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong, FS Rymbai also supported the Ladthadlaboh Dorbar’s decision.
“We requested the pro-ILP groups not to hold any agitation on these days (fete days) but failed to get there response,” Ladthalaboh Rangbah Shnong, LD Lakiang said.
“The date for the fete was fixed months ago and it cannot be rescheduled at this moment,” Lakiang said adding that the NGOs should take responsibility if any untoward incident takes place in the locality during the fete days.
“We have supported most of the agitation programmes of the NGOs on the ILP issue but it is sad when we made a request it fell on deaf ears,” Lakiang said.
“I tried to get in touch with several NGO leaders from Jaintia Hills but failed to reach them as their mobile phones were switched off,” he added.