TURA, JUNE 12: The 12- hour Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) – bandh- passed off peacefully on Thursday across the five Garo hills districts with no untoward incidents reported from any parts of the region.
The shutdown was from 5 am to 5 pm and will continue on Friday also in the same timing.
Normal life came to a grinding halt with all government offices, educational institutions, banks, shops and other business establishments remaining closed. People preferred to remain indoors. Vehicles remained off the road.
The bandh spearheaded by Garo Students Union (GSU) and North East Students Organisation (NESO) is to demand a CBI or a judicial probe into the two recent custodial deaths of Balsan Marak and Witson M. Sangma.
Balsan, an undertrial prisoner had died in a government hospital on May 20, whereas Witson, a suspected over-ground worker of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), died in police lock-up at Chokpot in South Garo hills on May 28.
Balsan was arrested on May 13 and Witson on May 27.
The GSU is also demanding compensation for late Washington N. Marak, killed four years ago in a fake encounter. The National Human Rights Commission had directed the state government to release the compensation.
Across Garo hills, the deputy commissioner’s office remained almost empty with very thin attendance.
Meghalaya chief secretary WMS Pariat had issued an instruction yesterday that salary of government employees will be deducted, if they fail to attend offices.
West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi said, “We received the order yesterday around 7 pm, so it could not be relayed to different line departments. We are issuing the necessary circular today.”- By Our Reporter
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