Garo Hills shutdown passes off peacefully
TURA: The Garo Students’ Union (GSU) sponsored non-cooperation movement to protest the twin custodial deaths in Tura and Chokpot passed off peacefully with no untoward incidents being reported even as several dozen student volunteers surrounded a district collector’s office to prevent entry by government employees.
The first part of the two-day (5am to 5 pm) shutdown called by the Garo Hills student and social groups passed off peacefully with no untoward incidents reported even as the call by Meghalaya Chief Secretary W M S Pariat to attend office fell on deaf years.
Pariat had warned that government officers and employees who do not attend work during the two day non-cooperation movement in Garo Hills would have their pay cut.
Ironically, the state government failed to provide sufficient protection and assistance to the several hundred state employees who had to travel from long distances.
Public transport was completely off the roads during the bandh in Tura and other towns.
The Deputy Commissioner of East Garo Hills along with his ministerial staff had to operate from the office of the district police chief (SP) to prevent any escalation of tension since there were as many as forty student volunteers who had surrounded the DC office to prevent entry of government staff.
The situation was similar in four other districts of Garo Hills, including Tura, where the deputy commissioner had to work with a skeleton staff as employees stayed away for fear of reprisal attacks by vested interest groups.
While there were no reports of attacks, normal life came to a standstill in all five districts, barring some parts of Rajabala, Bhaitbari and Hallidayganj where traders opened up for business during the bandh time.
