TURA, MAR 11: The residents of Ampati constituency in Meghalaya’s South West Garo hills district have not only denounced the indefinite bandh call given by the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) but also decided to defy by taking out a rally through the streets of Ampati on Wednesday.
Ampati residents have decided to open shops, schools and other establishment from Thursday like any other normal days and defy the GNLA indefinite bandh.
GNLA had called for the bandh across Garo hills on Monday but said it will be indefinite in Ampati, the constituency of chief minister Mukul Sangma. The GNLA is protesting the alleged “highhandedness of police” and “fake encounters”.
On Wednesday over 2000 people walked through the streets of Ampati town and have decided to function normally from tomorrow. Shops, schools and other establishment will be open like any other normal day.
People from all walks of life took part in the public rally and requested the GNLA to call-off the indefinite strike. They have also urged the outfit not to kill innocent people.
In a communiqué the South Garo hills district administration have welcomed and supported the people from Ampati, who have decided not to adhere to such kind of indefinite bandh.
The rally culminated at Ampati mini stadium, where the public conducted a condolence service for the four policemen who were killed in an ambush by GNLA on Tuesday at Panda Reserve forest, near Rongara in South Garo Hills. They observed one-minute silence as a mark of respect for the brave heroes.
The outfit had called the indefinite bandh at Ampati constituency blaming Mukul Sangma for giving “freehand” and power to the security forces. On March 4, son of village headman of Oragitok in West Garo Hills was killed in an exchange of fire.
The GNLA has blamed police for framing an innocent civilian as militant. They are demanding immediate suspension of policemen responsible for the killing of Sengbath Marak and an independent enquiry to probe the incident.
On Wednesday the rally in Ampati was held amidst tight security cover. The strike imposed by the militant had affected several students across Garo hills appearing for board examinations.
The outfit had exempted the students from the purview of the strike. However, there was fear and the transport and communication facilities remained minimal in rural areas.
At Ampati, the administration had pressed five public transportvehicles for ferrying students to their respective examination
centres.- From Our Correspondent
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