TURA, March 13 � Taking a hard stance, the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) has refused to call off the indefinite bandh in Ampati town, despite the citizens entreating the outfit to lift the bandh, while also defying the bandh call yesterday. The outfit further warned that defiance of the bandh call would lead to punitive action.
Ampati is already reeling under the impact of the indefinite bandh with food supplies already becoming scarce. Shops and establishments that had opened yesterday, remained shut today for fear of reprisal.
A GNLA release said, �We shall remain firm with the bandh called in Ampati. Defying the bandh without consultation with our higher authority is very much regretted. We are contemplating punitive action against the leaders responsible for that.�
The release alleged, �Defying the bandh was instigated by CM Mukul Sangma himself and those leaders are none other than Mukul�s party workers.� It also criticised the peace organisation Shalom Meghalaya for allegedly acting at the behest of the CM.
�Ampati bandh shall strictly continue until our demands are fulfilled and the tears of the victims are brought to justice�, the release added.
