Our Bureau
TURA/SHILLONG, April 13: Seen as one of the main instigators of the recently concluded violence that shook the entire Garo Hills region for weeks, former Phulbari MLA SG Esmatur Mominin surrendered before Ri-Bhoi Police on Monday afternoon.
Mominin surrendered at the Nongpoh Police Station after being named as the prime instigator of the violence that rocked the Garo Hills region in March.
According to a senior police official, Mominin was taken to Tura for further legal proceedings and is likely to be produced before a local court in Tura on Tuesday.
At least two FIRs have been filed by residents of Garo Hills on the role of the former MLA in the recent unrest.
Mominin was the first person who attempted to file his nomination for the then GHADC election in the town of Tura at a time when there were several protests over the participation of non-tribals in the GHADC election.
The former MLA was apparently manhandled by protestors over his attempt at filing his nomination on March 9. He was apparently given police cover to return to his constituency following the incident. However after reaching Phulbari constituency, Mominin, in widely publicised videos that were seen on social media, apparently incited unrest which resulted in the violence.
The unrest later led to the deaths of at least two persons and several cases of arson, loot and damage across Garo Hills and curbs staying for five weeks to ensure normalcy. At least 28 persons have been arrested in the aftermath of the recent incidents.
Reacting to the development, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong refrained from making any detailed comments, stating that the matter should be left to the legal process.
On the demand for the release of activists arrested in connection with the recent unrest in Garo Hills, Tynsong maintained that due legal procedures must be followed.
He emphasised that it would not be appropriate to release the arrested individuals without adhering to established rules and regulations.
