GNLA firm on Ampati bandh

SHILLONG/TURA: Even as the situation in Ampati started to roll back to normal with the opening of a few shops and the functioning of educational institutions and government offices on Thursday morning, the GNLA issued another statement on Friday firmly stating that the indefinite bandh in the region would go on.
“GNLA shall remain firm with the bandh already called in Ampati. Certain rules have been issued in this respect and shall be carried out by the respective Area Commanders. Defying bandh without consultation with our higher authority is very much regretted. We are contemplating punitive action against those leaders responsible for that,” the statement issued by its Joint Publicity Secretary, Garo Mandei Ch Marak said.
Marak said that the firm stand taken was not in the interest of the outfit but for justice and questioned if Ampati could condole the deaths of policemen why they could not condemn the alleged fake encounter of Sengbath Marak and another five people who were earlier killed by villagers in Mrigre Village.
“It is partial and biased. Why did the leaders of the Ampati rally not write a memorandum to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, demanding removal of those police personnel responsible for the fake encounter that took place at Oragitok? Defying the bandh is intigated by the CM himself and these leaders are none other than his party workers,” Marak claimed adding that their actions against the GNLA had attracted several penal actions against them as per the law of the outfit.