On Tuesday, tensions in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya had taken a new turn after two individuals died in police firing as unrests continued to rave around in the region over the looming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections. According to the officials, the incident took place on a night curfew that was enforced due to the protests over the involvement of non-tribal candidates in the council polls to be held on April 10.
The police claimed that security forces fired during the early morning on Tuesday when they were trying to break up a mob that had formed against curfew rules. The shooting cost lives of two people, which only made the situation even more unstable in the region. After the incident, the police imposed a severe 24 hours curfew in sensitive places and sent more security personnel to stop further violence.
Vibhor Aggarwal of the West Garo Hills District Magistrate also requested the Army to help them carry out a flag march in the plains belt of the district in an attempt to restore the confidence of the populace. Aggarwal wrote to the Commanding Officer of the 101 Area of the Eastern Command that the action of the presence of armed forces would assist in assuring the people and ensuring that there are no further unwarranted incidents.
The violence started after the nominations on the GHADC elections started last week. The requirement resulted in controversy as the council required Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates of those candidates who challenged the polls, which caused both supporters and opponents of the requirement to protest.
This was aggravated when the protesters were reported to have blocked and beaten former Phulbari MLA Esmatur Momin outside the deputy commissioner office in Tura when the latter was trying to submit his nomination. Past experiences of vandalism activities in the surrounding neighborhood had already heightened tension to levels where the police used blank firing in order to break up the mobs. Law enforcement agencies are keeping a close eye to the situation.
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