From Our Correspondent
TURA: The All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) on Saturday called off its indefinite economic blockade following a meeting with officials of Meghalaya government at Hatsingimari on Friday.
AAMSU, which had led the blockade for past one week, has withdrawn it with immediate effect, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said.
He said the lifting of the blockade was conveyed to the district administration by the AAMSU leaders from Mankachar citing the ‘positive response’ of the Meghalaya government and the district administration in a joint meeting held at Hatsingimari on Friday.
The blockade was imposed following the killing of eight labourers in South Garo Hills district.
Bakshi said the curfew imposed along the inter-state border has also been completely lifted with immediate effect.
The economic blockade had affected supply of essential commodities on the NEC road which is the lifeline for the five districts of Garo Hills.
The students’ body has been demanding that the Meghalaya Government provide adequate protection to the minorities residing in Meghalaya after eight migrant coal miners from the minority community were killed by a mob in South Garo Hills district on June 23.
They are also demanding that the Meghalaya Government pay an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed.
Meanwhile, state Power Minister Clement Marak on Friday held a meeting with Mankachar MLA Javed Islam and representatives of NGOs and civil societies from Assam including AAMSU, South Salmara-Mankachar Unit with the aim to restore normalcy through comprehensive deliberation.
The meeting was also attended by Dhubri Deputy Commissioner Kumud Chandra Kalita and West Garo Hills district Deputy Commissioner, Bakshi.
