Shillong, Mar 9: Tensions are running high in the Garo Hills region ahead of the April 10 elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) as violence marked the first day of filing of nominations.
Former Phulbari MLA SG Esmatur Mominin and prospective candidate Enamul Haque were assaulted by protestors while en route to file their nominations in Tura today.
Sources said despite a security presence, a large crowd of protesters—who oppose the participation of non-tribal candidates in the polls—overpowered personnel and forced their way into the building to assault the politicians.
Mominin, who plans to contest as an independent candidate, is leading the minority groups from the region against the recent GHADC notification requiring ST certificates for candidates contesting the district council polls.
Garo Hills have petitioned Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar to strike down the recent Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) notification requiring ST certificates for candidates contesting the district council polls.
There have been raging demands from various pressure groups, politicians and others that non-tribals or non-Garos should not be allowed to contest elections or vote in the GHADC.
The last date for filing nomination papers is March 16, while March 17 has been set as the last date for the withdrawal of candidatures, as per the notification issued by the District Council Affairs Department.
Due to the violent outbreak, the district administration has imposed curfew to prevent any escalation.
West Garo Hills District Magistrate Vibhor Aggarwal, expressed concerns about possible disruptions to public peace and called for urgent precautions, citing “apprehension of communal tension and a possible breach of peace and tranquility between different community groups in the district.”
Aggarwal stated that there is a possibility of obstruction or intimidation of movement of vehicles and the likelihood of disruption of the normal life of the people which is likely to cause inconvenience to the general public. “Such obstruction or intimidation is likely to lead to breach of peace which may result in disturbance of public tranquility leading to injury, loss of property or riot or affray,” the order said.
The curfew is imposed in 37 villages under the jurisdiction of the Phulbari, Rajabala, Hallidayganj and Tikrkilla police stations and is effective from 6 pm to 6 am. The order prohibits unauthorised gatherings and the carrying of weapons in sensitive areas.
The areas mentioned fall under various MDC constituencies of Shyamnagar (Phulbari), Balachanda, Batabari among other GHADC constituencies.
Meanwhile, a GSU office in Chibinang under the Shyamnagar GHADC constituency was reportedly set on fire by a group of unidentified miscreants in a possible retaliatory attack.
Monitoring efforts are underway to restore tranquility in Garo Hills while a peace committee meeting has been scheduled at the Tura Circuit House tomorrow at 10 am.
