Curfew, mobile internet cut in West Garo Hills after violence over GHADC ST rule
The curfew was imposed on Tuesday & will remain in force for 24 hours, while mobile internet services will remain suspended for 48 hours
A file image of the GHADC office in Tura. (Photo: X)
Shillong, Mar 10: Curfew was clamped and mobile internet services suspended in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district following violence linked to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) election nomination process.
The curfew was imposed on Tuesday and will remain in force for 24 hours, while mobile internet services will remain suspended for 48 hours, officials said.
The curfew was clamped in the wake of miscreants vandalising several shops in Chibinang area of the district on Monday evening.
The vandalisation of shops took place amid controversy over a recent notification issued by the GHADC requiring candidates to produce valid Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates while filing nomination papers for the council elections scheduled to be held on April 10.
District Magistrate Vibhor Aggarwal said the decision was taken following information indicating a likelihood of disturbance to public peace and tranquillity.
The Commissioner and Secretary in charge of Home and District Council Affairs, Cyril Diengdoh, said the government has instructed all deputy commissioners, including that of West Garo Hills, to convene peace committee meetings with community leaders and appeal for calm.
"We have told the DC to call all the communities and hold peace committee meetings and appeal for peace," Diengdoh said.
He said additional security forces would be deployed in the district after the superintendent of police sought more personnel. "More forces will be sent," he said.
Senior administrative and police officials, including magistrates, have been camping in the affected areas and closely monitoring the situation.
Filing of nominations for the GHADC elections began on Monday and will continue till March 16, while scrutiny of nomination papers is scheduled for March 17.
No candidate filed nomination papers on the first day, as political parties only collected nomination forms after briefings at the deputy commissioner's office.
"There is no plan as such to extend the nomination period. We are assessing the situation and waiting for reports. We will see as the situation unfolds," Diengdoh added.
PTI