SHILLONG: A rally will be organised on August 18 in West Garo Hills to register protest against violence and the unending cycle of militant attacks and strikes which have crippled life in Garo Hills.
A meeting convened by West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi to discuss the prevailing law and order situation has decided to organise the rally, which will start from Tura Government College playground.
A joint resolution in this regard was adopted by the Churches (Garo Baptist Church and Catholic Church), ‘Shalom Meghalaya’, Senior Citizens, Community Leaders, Mothers’ Union, Pastors and other distinguished personalities of Tura.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, Bakshi said that in view of the abduction of the employee of the State Bank of India and killing of a petrol pump attendant at Bokmagre in the outskirts of Tura bringing to closure of petrol pumps, there is a need on the part of citizens to come together.
The prominent persons who attended the meeting include K.C. Momin, former Minister and Chairperson of State Level Grievances Committee, Don Bosh Sangma, Chairman of Tura Municipal Board, Sume B. Sangma representing Mothers’ Union, Rev. G.B.R. Marak, ex-president, UCPA, Fr. Sunny Mavelli, NGO representatives and media persons.
The meeting was called to extend solidarity with the family of the deceased Bittu Kumar Patel who was the unfortunate victim of militant attack at Bokmagre service station.
All the members of the meeting unanimously condemned the act of violence and the motive behind it to destabilize Garo. The leaders of the Garo Baptist Convention/ABDK expressed their anguish over the incident and promised various forms of protest like wearing of black badges and spontaneous peace rallies to vent out the anger against the horrendous crime.
It was suggested by all sections of people that they would be wearing black badges as a mark of protest and condemnation of the violence perpetrated by the militant outfits.
Fr. Sunny Joseph Mavelli who is spearheading the ‘Shalom Meghalaya’ peace movement also urged all sections of society to strongly speak out and condemn in unequivocal terms the acts of violence and killings executed by the militants.