TURA, March 7: An FIR has been filed against the Achik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) for allegedly defacing many public structures in their demand for a winter capital here.
The AHAM had recently met over the issue of seeking equal opportunities for both Garo Hills as well as the Khasi-Jaintia Hills. The demand for Tura to be declared as the winter capital was one of its major demands. However, they, as part of their demand, allegedly spray-painted slogans on public structures, including the recently inaugurated artificial turf football stadium at Chandmary, Tura.
In this regard, the executive engineer of the Urban Affairs department on Sunday filed a complaint against AHAM under the Public Nuisance Act and Defamation of Public Property Act, 1985. The complainant said that AHAM was suspected of being involved in defacing public property, which is part of the ongoing beautification project of Tura town.
Meanwhile, West Garo Hills SP, Vivekananda Singh, informed that an FIR has been registered and an investigation is under way.
While an FIR may have been filed against AHAM for their alleged role in marring of public property, it has been observed that most agitations in the region have followed a similar trend.
The recent protest seeking the ouster of Rakesh Sangma as CEM of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council had resulted in slogans being spray-painted on walls across parts of Tura and elsewhere.
Though Rakesh Sangma has been removed from his post, the slogans are yet to be removed from the walls.