Tura, Jan 10: The West Garo Hills (WGH) district Police have arrested three persons in connection with the brutal assault on members of ACHIK which led to the tragic death of one near the village of Goalgaon under Rajabala Police Station. However, the owner of the illegal stone quarry managed to abscond defying efforts to nab him.
Police sources stated that the arrests were made yesterday after the murder of Dilseng Sangma of the regional ACHIK unit, leading to tensions in the area and fear of the incident turning communal in nature.
The arrests were made following information being provided by sources to the police of the involvement of the three accused. Raids were also conducted in other places as well as the house of the illegal quarry owner but he had fled before the arrival of the police.
Yesterday, members of ACHIK visited the Wadagokgre Aking where many illegal stone quarries were operating– all of which fall under the protected area status under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The ACHIK members, who went in 4 cars, apparently went to shut down one of these set ups. The group while returning was attacked by miscreants with weapons, sticks and stones.
While two of the vehicles were badly damaged after stones and boulders were thrown at them, two other vehicles that ACHIK members took with them, were abandoned at the site of the assault – with members running on foot to escape the assaulters.
While most of the members were able to escape the clutches of the assaulters, two were not so lucky and bore the brunt of the attack. They were rushed to the Tura Civil Hospital where Dilseng succumbed to his injuries yesterday.
The post-mortem of the body was undertaken this morning with ACHIK members looking to undertake a flag march with the body. They later acceded to the request by the police and district administration and called off the march in view of heightening tensions.
Meanwhile, many places in the plain belt including the villages of New Bhaitbari near which the incident took place shut shop as a mark of respect to the deceased. Other districts reported migrant workers from the plain belt and from Assam rushing back home to keep themselves safe. However, despite the heightened tensions, peace prevailed with no incident of violence being reported from any part of Garo Hills.
In an effort to ensure normalcy, the district and police administration today held peace meetings in three separate locations – Tura, Phulbari and Rajabala in an effort to ease tensions and bring normalcy back to the region.
The meeting was held at Tura Circuit House and involved the administration, CSOs and other related persons with the sole aim of ensuring that the situation did not flare up.
Deputy Commissioner, Vibhor Agarwal expressed satisfaction at the response and the preparations by the police.
“It was an unfortunate incident that took place. Yesterday we held a meeting with the SP and the concerned CSO who lost their member to this tragedy. We assured them that there was no breakage of law and order and requested them to not act on emotion. They assured us of their cooperation. The police department has also assured that all efforts will be put in to arrest those involved,” informed Agarwal after the meeting during a press conference.
Meanwhile local MLA of Rajabala, Dr Mizanur Rehman Kazi, through a note has condemned the incident and expressed his condolences with the victim and his family.
“I am in constant touch with the administration and our CM and committed to ensuring peace prevails. Our priority remains the maintenance of law and order, peace and brotherhood amongst all communities and the safety of everyone. As a mark of respect, all shops between Hallidayganj to Gomaijhora remained closed from 12:30 PM. The overall situation is peaceful and that is what we want,” stated Mizanur.
