From Our Correspondent
CHIBINANG, March 11: Contrary to ongoing narrations, police sources on Wednesday categorically stated that the two recent deaths in Chibinang were not caused by police firing.
Post-mortem examinations conducted at Tura Civil Hospital revealed that one victim suffered fatal stab wounds and the other a fatal injury from a country-made pistol—neither consistent with police-issued ammunition.
In a detailed disclosure, a highly-placed police source explained the chain of events that has pout Garo Hills on the boil since Monday, resulting in widespread arson, violence and property damage.
The source said tensions escalated dramatically following violent clashes sparked by the nomination process for the GHADC elections.
The unrest began when former Phulbari MLA S.G. Esmatur Mominin, along with Enamul Hoque, attempted to file nominations in Tura. Mominin was manhandled by protesters opposing non-tribal participation in the GHADC polls. Upon returning to Phulbari, his constituency, violence erupted, involving arson and assaults, turning communal.
Serious confrontations occurred between groups on the evening of March 9 and continued till March 10, leaving residents confused. Gunfights were reported between armed civilians and security forces attempting to restore order.
Police sources indicated that retaliatory fire from civilians may have caused at least five bullet injuries, but no injured sought treatment locally—instead heading to Goalpara, Assam.
Both sides were reportedly armed with muzzle-loading guns, pellet firearms, licensed weapons, machetes, and other implements—not standard police ammunition.
“We are not too sure now because all happened during the night, both tribals and non-tribals were armed, both had their licensed weapons and machetes. We fired in the air on two instances but even the post-mortem on one of the victims doesn’t show that he died from gunshot injury. We fired in the air to disperse the crowd but there was also an exchange of fire between them.
“The first exchange of fire took place at around 9:30 pm on Monday. The victims who died were reportedly killed between 1-2 am the next morning. From sources, we were also informed that quite a few of those injured were admitted in Goalpara from gunshot injuries that one got from the muzzle loading gun,” said a highly-placed police source.
The source reiterated that police firing was only into the air, not at the crowd, and injuries/deaths did not match police ammunition.
“Both sides had muzzle loading guns, air guns and some had air pistols. These are pellets and not police guns. That night both tribals and the non-tribals had weapons.”
To contain the volatile situation, authorities deployed massive reinforcements: five companies of CRPF, three from Assam Police, five Army columns, and four from Meghalaya Police’s Eastern Range. “This is very significant as we got five companies of CRPF. The Assam police also pitched in with about 3 companies and we have 5 columns of the Army. We have sent four companies of reinforcement from Meghalaya Police from Eastern Range and others. We have pumped in forces to contain the situation,” the source added.
Security forces conducted flag marches in sensitive areas overnight and the following morning, based on intelligence about potential arson. “Flag March held last night was after inputs that groups may try to carry out arson, and then this morning we also had another flag March by the army,” the source said.
