Ampati normal despite GNLA bandh

TURA, MAR 12:  A day after taking out a rally defying the bandh call of the Garo National Liberation Amry (GNLA), Ampati town limped back to life with schools and businesses reopening amidst tight security. The GNLA bandh call had singled out Ampati for an indefinite bandh, which the residents promised to defy.

Ampati residents had also appealed to the GNLA to withdraw the bandh call. But  outfit is yet to respond to the request.

Ampati is the constituency of the Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma. The GNLA’s indefinite bandh defied by the residents gave rose to fear of a possible violence.

The fear of a reprisal to the defiance had been high especially after the killing of four policemen near Baghmara in South Garo Hills.

The GNLA called bandh in Garo hills yesterday seeking an independent probe into the Oragitok incident but in Ampati the outfit said the bandh would be indefinite which is seen as a pressure tactics on the chief minister to fulfil its demand.

The town, which generally closed by five pm each evening opened early morning today with vegetable vendors and grocery shops being the first to open. School children walked through the streets in full uniforms and classes carried on normally. However quite a few shops remained shut out of fear.

The district administration had welcomed the reopening of the town and as such the offices of the DC operated normally, though attendance was still a little low.

Transportation, however, was still an issue as private bus operators were kept their vehicles off the the routes to Ampati and beyond. However cars and bikes roamed the streets normally.

“We arranged for transportation of children to schools as private buses are yet to start operations”, said Ram Singh, South West Garo Hills deputy commissioner.

Security throughout the day had been very high in anticipation of a possible problem. “Patrolling parties are on the move to ensure security for residents and black flag marches were also carried out through the town. There were no reported problems of security within the town. Hopefully things will get better”, added Singh.- From Our Correspondent