Pent-up anger led to violence, says Lessley

TURA, JUNE 22: Tura South legislator John Lessley Sangma felt that the mob violence that resulted in the killing of one person and torching of vehicles in Tura was the outcome of the pent-up frustration over the inability of the police to apprehend and punish alleged rapists in the Williamnagar and Ampati.

Sangma told this website that the failure of the police led to a situation where people took law into their own hands when they heard that a girl was molested at Wadangere leading to mayhem and imposition of curfew.

Sangma who attended the peace meeting convened by the West Garo hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi on Saturday, however, informed that the situation was gradually limping back to normalcy. He attended the meeting convened by Bakshi where the Mothers Union, church leaders and the youths were also attended to discuss on how to bring back normalcy and also ensure peace in West Garo hills after Friday night carnage.

Sangma informed that everyone who was present in the meeting condemned the ugly episode of
Friday night and felt that it was the result of the pent up frustration of the inability of the police to act on the rape cases that had taken place in the region.

Sangma said though normalcy is returning to Tura, but he cannot say for sure if there will not be stray incident as he put, “I cannot give hundred percent guarantee as there might be some miscreants who are looking to take advantage of the situation.”

Sangma revealed that last night after the incident he went around and met boys who were mostly intoxicated and felt that some unscrupulous people might take advantage.

Sangma also assured that individuals were helping migrant labourers to move out of the town because of the situation. He said,  “I myself took out about ten  labours in my vehicle and dropped them to a police station from where they were moved out of the town”.- By Our Reporter