| BAGHMARA: Hundreds of school and college students walked in unison with elders of South Garo Hills at Baghmara town on Monday to register a strong public protest against the gruesome murder of an elderly villager by militants of the GNLA early last week. The protestors carried banners and placards demanding an end to the killings and restoration of peace in Garo Hills. The protest began with the public gathering at the Government Boys’ High School at 11 AM where elders and leaders of various organisations addressed the people condemning the murder and calling for the restoration of peace in Garo Hills. Members of several student and social organizations took part in the rally and peace march that began from the school up to the Simsang bridge which connects both sides of the river. “End these killings of innocent people,” “No justification can be made by killing your own people,” were some of the placards carried by the protestors during the rally. The rally was supported by the Baghmara Citizenship Forum, Garo Students’ Union, All A’chik Youth Federation, Federation of Khasi Jaintia Garo People, Association for Democracy and Empowerment, Baghmara College students’ union, senior citizens and the general public. Strong public anger has been growing against the banned GNLA rebel group following the killing of a 53 year-old-man, Olget R Marak, from Oripur village of Dambuk Aga on the night of August 1 last. Four rebels of the GNLA came to the village at 2 O’clock and knocked on the door of the victim. They informed his wife that they needed him to guide them towards the international border located a little distance away. Assuring the family of his safe return they took Olget away only to execute him in cold blood by riddling his body with multiple gunfire from close range. His mangled body was found by day-break next to the road. A poster accusing him of being a police informer was left behind by the GNLA execution squad. The murder sparked widespread anger against the rebels who were accused of killing an innocent and religiously active village elder. |
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