Shillong, Jan 28: A single poster purportedly put up by one or more members of the terror group ISIS caused something of a panic in Garo Hills today, though police and the district administration were quick to reassure citizens.
The poster, put up on an electric pole near the Law College at Araimile, Tura, today morning threatened the Garo community to vacate certain areas, such as Tura and plain belt regions by 2027.
It claimed to be from ISIS Khorasan, the so-called Islamic State’s Central and South Asian unit.
While taking the threat seriously, police suspect that vested interests are behind the poster, aiming to create fear and escalate tensions. Authorities removed the poster and sent it for forensic tests. They have also registered a police case and appealed to the public for calm and not to spread unverified information.
The plains of Garo Hills have a large population of non-Garos, many of the Muslim community. There have been some fears that more such non-tribals will settle in Garo Hills due to instability in neighbouring Bangladesh and by those supposedly leaving Assam in the wake of pressure put on Muslims by that state. There have also been calls within Garo Hills for non-tribals to prove that they are not illegal immigrants.
Reacting to the poster, cabinet minister Marcuise N Marak strongly condemned the incident. “As representatives of Meghalaya, we strongly condemn this act of intimidation and threat against our land, people and peaceful coexistence,” Marak said, adding that Meghalaya is committed to harmony, mutual respect and unity among all communities. “Such attempts to spread fear and division have no place in our society,” he added.
Tensions were also heightened after the murder of a Garo activist, Dilseng Sangma, earlier this month while he and the group he was part of were investigating illegal stone quarrying activities in the plains.
The West Garo Hills district administration is taking action to identify and prosecute those responsible. “I urge everyone to remain calm, united, and vigilant, and to place full faith in the Government and law to protect our people and land,” Marak said.
West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Abraham T Sangma said that, at present, no other such posters have been noticed or reported from any other parts of the district.
According to Sangma, preliminary assessment indicates that this may be a deliberate attempt by a person or group with vested interests to create anxiety and disturb the law and order situation in the district.
Sangma said that all out efforts are being made to identify and trace the persons responsible for pasting the poster and those who are circulating it to create panic and create communal disharmony.
He has urged the general public not to panic and not to be misled by such messages on social media or other platforms which are being circulated to create communal disharmony.
Sangma said that any suspicious activity or information may be shared with the nearest police station, outpost, beat house, or the Tura police control room.
