Bodies handed over

SHILLONG, JUNE 25: The bodies of the eight coalmine labourers who were butchered to death on Sunday in  Garritam village in Nongalbibra, about 50 kilometers away from Baghmara, were handed over to their relatives Damara in the Assam-Meghalaya border amidst apprehension of heighten tension on Tuesday.

The deceased have been identified as Babul Ali, Jirhul Islam, Harjit Ali, Fazir Ali, Modon Ali, Moinal Haque, Ismail Ali and Shah Jahan Ali who all belonged to the neighbouring Goalpara district in Assam.

An ex-gratia payment of Rs 3 lakhs each was also paid by the Meghalaya government beside Rs 1lakhs from the owner of the coalmine the labourers were working. The mines where the victims were working belongs to Babul Marak. H Marak and Kedar Marak.

To defuse tension following the killings of the eight labourers a peace rally of all the communities were also taken out in Baghmara on Tuesday. SP South Garo hills Davis Marak said, “A peace rally was also held at Nongalbibra.”

As the killings of the eight labourers have triggered fear among the migrant labourers especially from the neighbouring Assam, thousands of them have started fleeing Garo hills.

South Garo hills deputy commissioner Chinmay Gotmari  told this reporter that the exodus of labourers have been started from different pockets of South Garo hills district.  He said most of the labourers are from Nongalbibra apart from Chokpot and Siju areas.

Gotmari said, “Around 3000 migrant labourers have moved to Assam.” He has also issued directions to all coal mine owners to escort their labourers to the nearest police stations to help them move to Assam.

A magisterial inquiry into the incident has been ordered and report is being awaited.- By Our Reporter