From Our Correspondent
TURA, Jan 10: Simmering communal tension is blowing across Garo Hills over the death of a Garo pressure group member following a brutal assault on members of ACHIK over stone quarrying dispute near Goalgaon under Rajabala Police Station in West Garo Hills on Friday.
Saturday saw the arrest of at least three alleged perpetrators while the illegal quarry owner was absconding.
Police sources stated that the arrests were made on Friday after the murder of Dilseng Sangma, member of the regional ACHIK unit, leading to tensions and fear of the incident turning communal in nature. The arrests were made following information being provided from 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 quarry owner but he had fled the scene before the arrival of the police.
On Friday, members of ACHIK visited Wadagokgre Aking, the source of many illegal stone quarries – all of which fall under the protected area status under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
While they were returning after inspection of the quarry, the ACHIK members were attacked by miscreants with weapons, sticks and stones.
While two vehicles they were travelling in were badly damaged after stones and boulders were thrown at them, two other vehicles 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.
The post-mortem was conducted on Saturday morning after which ACHIK members planned to undertake a flag march with Dilseng’s 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 plains belt including the villages of New Bhaitbari near which the incident took place shut shop as a mark of respect. Other districts reported migrant workers from the plains belt and from neighbouring 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.
“We are still investigating the case and will definitely get to the bottom of what took place. More arrests are likely after we identify more of those responsible and we will ensure that all those responsible for the incident are apprehended. We will leave no stone unturned in our effort,” informed West Garo Hills SP, Abraham T. Sangma.
He added that for those that are returning to their homes (labourers and workers) the police department is providing them security if needed and support otherwise. He however asked all to refrain from spreading rumours on social media and to cooperate as the region gets back to normalcy.
In an effort to ensure normalcy, the district and police administration on Saturday held peace meetings in three separate locations – Tura, Phulbari and Rajabala – in an effort to ease tensions and bring back normalcy to the region.
The meeting held in Tura was held at the Circuit House and involved the administration, civil society organisations and other related persons with the sole aim of ensuring 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 group 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 made to arrest those involved,” Agarwal informed after the meeting.
