Shillong, Mar 16: Police today arrested former Balachanda MDC Sofior Rahman on suspicion of inciting communal disharmony in connection with last week’s violence in Garo Hills.
Rahman was picked up from his New Bhaitbari residence at around 1am by a special team from Tura Police Station.
Police say several of Rahman’s social media posts contributed to escalating tensions, leading to unrest and violence.
Multiple FIRs have been filed against Rahman and former MLA SG Esmatur Mominin for making inflammatory statements and provoking actions that contributed to communal disturbances. The two were prominent among the non-tribal community in opposing moves to disenfranchise non-tribals from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
The GHADC had tried, in vain, to make it mandatory for candidates to produce a Scheduled Tribe certificate when filing their nominations; however, the High Court ruled that the GHADC had not followed prescribed procedures when making the new rule. The attempt by two non-tribal politicians, one of whom was Mominin, to file their nominations last Monday sparked several days of violence in Garo Hills. The state government today decided to extend the current GHADC’s term by six months with the expectation that a new move to exclude non-tribals will be attempted, one that will pass legal scrutiny this time.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said over 28 persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in the recent violent incidents in the Garo Hills region.
On the FIRs lodged against former legislator Esmatur Mominin, the Deputy CM said police are investigating. He refused to comment on the arrest of Rahman.
