Locals rally for Jonathone in Resubelpara

TURA: The people of Resubelpara on Thursday came together in a rally to protest against the killing of Williamnagar NCP candidate, Jonathone N Sangma and three others by the GNLA in East Garo Hills on Sunday night.
The Peace Rally was organized jointly by the United Churches Peace Forum, GSU and Ampati Church leaders where participants were seen holding placards, posters and banners with messages of condemnation against the incident as they held a silent march around the stadium.
All shops and business establishments in and around Ampati also downed their shutters as a mark of protest against the killing.
The purpose of the rally was to send out a strong message that such killing of innocent blood is condemnable in a democracy.
An appeal was made to those who have joined militant organizations to come back to the mainstream. The rally also demanded adequate compensation to be paid to the families of the victims by the government. Local leader, Rev Alpha Sengba D Marak, who is the Executive Secretary of Krima No I and the president of Norther Zone United Christian Peace Forum lead the intercessory prayer for the bereaved families. Around one thousand people comprising of school students, senior citizens and local residents participated in the rally. Meanwhile, NGOs from Williamnagar in East Garo Hills including the GSU, FAF, AIGU and others have strongly condemned the cowardly act.
They demanded for an independent enquiry to be put into action immediately in order to bring the culprits to justice.
The NGOs urged police to be proactive in handling such kinds of threats and to thoroughly investigate the politician-militant nexus so that action can be taken against those who were involved. The All Garo Hills Nengminja Mahari Association which has its headquarters in Samanda also condemned Sunday night’s killing.
A candle light service was also held at Ampati in memory of the victims.