TURA, Dec 19: An irate mob on Saturday torched the office of Garo Students’ Union (GSU) at Ampati in South West Garo Hills as the members of the organisation allegedly harassed the traders from Assam by restricting their entry.
The Assam traders visit places in the region to buy produce from the local farmers.
The mob, comprising several hundred local farmers and others and armed with sticks and stones, marched to the GSU office, pelted stones at it and broke its windows before setting it on fire. The incident forced the GSU leaders to flee to safety.
The mob also torched the office of Ampati Bazaar Committee secretary after accusing him of siding with the GSU.
The local farmers have been already hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and their miseries started compounding ever since the traders from Assam were prevented entry into the region. They depend heavily on the buyers from Assam for a good price.
“As it was the weekly market day today, areca nut sellers from Ampati and different parts of the region had come to sell their produce to the buyers from Assam’s Mankachar. When they did not turn up, the areca nut sellers were very upset,” Rituraj Ravi, the district police chief, said.
The entry of traders from Assam’s Mankachar, which is just a few kilometers away from Ampati, was restricted in the wake of the pandemic. Although the restrictions were eased over the past two weeks by the authorities to allow trade and commerce, subject to adherence to COVID-19 protocols, they continued to face blockade. Coupled with it were reports of illegal tax collection from the traders from outside by the members of the GSU and others.
With Saturday being the last weekly market before the start of Christmas celebrations, the farmers had reportedly contacted the buyers from the neighbouring state to meet and sell their produce so they can earn some money and celebrate Christmas with families.
“When they did not turn up, some farmers contacted them and learnt that they were turned away by the GSU. This infuriated them leading to the attack,” a trader from Ampati said.
The farmers were joined by hundreds of people, who vented ire over the reports of alleged extortion. The mob also vandalised stalls run by some locals who sell fish and vegetables. They were targeted for buying food items at cheap prices from Mankachar and allegedly selling them at exorbitant prices. They accused the market secretary of conniving with the local sellers.