Another ring leader wanted by police in connection with the July 24 violence in Tura has been arrested.
Garoland State Movement Committee co-chairman Balkarin Ch Marak was arrested today from a house at Bansamgre village in Samanda during an early morning raid launched by West Garo Hills police with the assistance of East Garo Hills police.
Marak was produced before a judge and sent to two-day police custody.
It may be noted that A’chik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) leader Labenn Ch Marak was arrested on August 17.
Police are trying to trace the whereabouts of ACHIK general secretary Bernita R. Marak who is also one of the ring leaders in the case.
The West Garo Hills district police have charged the three persons under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Meghalaya (Maintenance of Public Order) Act and Prevention to Damage to Public Property Act in connection with the Tura violence.
They have also been charged under Sections 120-B, 121, 121A, 188, 307, 326, 353, 435, 511, 143, 147, 148, 149, 150, 153, 153-A, 155, 158 and 34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Earlier, the trio tried to avoid arrest by seeking anticipatory bail from the Meghalaya High Court. However, the High Court on August 11 rejected their bail applications following which the three went into hiding.
Labenn Ch Marak and Balkarin Marak had staged the indefinite strike from July 11 near the mini secretariat in Tura to demand for winter capital and implementation of a backlog policy on reservation for Garos.
However, the hunger strike which culminated in the violence outside the mini-secretariat in Tura on July 24. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma was inside the building when the violence took place.
The stone pelting and arson attacks left a large number of police personnel injured. Police vehicles and fire brigade trucks were also set on fire by the attackers.
Days after the violence, police arrested as many as 49 persons for their alleged involvement in stone pelting, arson and other violent acts.
Labenn Ch Marak is a former MCS officer. He resigned from service in 2017 and contested as an Independent candidate in the Dadenggre seat against James Sangma in the 2018 Assembly elections. However, he lost the polls.
In the March 2023 Assembly elections, he was the Congress candidate in the South Tura constituency in the 2023 Assembly elections against Chief Minister Conrad Sangma but was defeated.
Balkarin Marak is the co-chairman of Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) while Bernita R. Marak is the general secretary of ACHIK. She is also a lawyer.
