Sept 30 marks massacre of 9 Garos during police firing
TURA: Memorial programmes and prayer services were organised in remembrance of the nine Garo martyrs who lost their lives during a police firing in Tura and Williamnagar, while protesting against the alleged bifurcation of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) in 2005, in Tura and Williamnagar on Monday.
In view of the inclement weather, the memorial service scheduled at Chandmary Playground in Tura was held at the Tura District Auditorium, while the occasion was shifted to the Rongrenggre Higher Secondary School Hall in Williamnagar.
On that fateful day, police resorted to gunfire after failing to control the agitating crowd. This resulted in the deaths of nine innocent people.
While four of them fell to police bullets near Chandmary Playground in Tura, five others lost their lives in the vicinity of the Rongrenggre Higher Secondary School in Williamnagar.
In memory of those who had lost their lives on what has been dubbed as ‘Black Friday’, the 30th September Victims’ Solidarity Forum has been organising prayer services every year on the occasion.
The solidarity forum comprises of Garo organisations including the GSU, AYWO, FKJGP, ADE, FAF, TGCSU, PGSU and Social Welfare Association (SWA) among others.
Monday evening’s service commemorated the 14th anniversary of the twin incidents.
Speaking during the memorial service in Tura, the president of the 30th September Victims’ Solidarity Forum, Manseng A Sangma said that the memory of the incident which happened 15 years ago was still fresh in his mind. “We are not here to take revenge but to remember. Let us remember them and their sacrifices for always,” Sangma said. The gathering along with the families of the victims was scheduled to hold a candle light march to the cenotaph at the Chandmary Playground after the service. However, due to bad weather the march was cancelled and torches that were prepared were lit by the family members at the venue itself.
Earlier, bouquets were also presented to the family members of the victims by Church leaders.
In Williamnagar, the memorial service for the five victims began at 2 pm.