TURA: Desperate for peace to be brought back to the region residents of Chokpot in South Garo Hills along with NGOs and church leaders organized a public peace meeting at the Chokpot Playground recently.
The region of Chokpot has been one of the most to be affected by militant activities due to which vehicular service was recently temporarily ceased by the Garo Hills Motor Workers Union (GHMWU) after two of its members were abducted by unidentified militants, and the region remains deprived off public transportation to this day.
During the meeting, various speakers urged the people to unite and shun the path of violence and to jointly fight against anti social elements who had brought nothing but grief and misery to the region.
“The people of Chokpot need to come together and unite for the restoration of peace and tranquility in the region. We need to jointly fight against anti social elements which is the root cause of slow progress and underdevelopment of the region,” Awesing R Sangma, a writer and social activist said adding development and peace would not be attainable if anti social elements continue to exist.
Krima VII Mission Secretary Exwillin R Marak highlighted the need to provide education to every child to ensure they understand their own duties and responsibilities towards the society and to lead honest and God fearing lives.
With reference to the ongoing strike called by the (GHMWU), Marak said that the difficulties faced by the people of Chokpot were numerous as it was. However, she added that due to the strike the situation had become even worse putting the lives of emergency patients at risk including the future of students who require urgent transportation.
Hawakhana Baptist Church Rev, Frithing D Sangma while exhorting the people to come together urged them not to be lured in to joining militant outfits. He said that the achievement of everlasting peace depends on each and every individual and not on any single group or the government and urged the Garo brothers living in the jungles to see reason and come to the mainstream.
Others who also spoke on the occasion were GHSMC General Secretary, Balkarin Ch Marak and Chairman, Nikman Ch Marak.
Earlier, the peace meeting began with a opening prayer by Maxwell R Marak, the Pastor of Chokpot Baptist Church.
The meeting also made an earnest appeal to the group involved to safely release the two kidnapped victims without conditions.
