TURA, MAR 7: The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) has called twelve hours bandh in the five Garo hills districts on Monday but in Ampati, which is the chief minister’s constituency, the outfit said the bandh will be indefinite. The bandh is slated will be from 5 am to 5 pm
The GNLA has called the bandh to protest against what it called “the alleged fake encounter” on Wednesday killing the son of village headman Sengbath Marak at Oragitok village in an encounter.
GNLA joint publicity secretary Garo Mandei Marak on Saturday said in statement that in the constituency of chief minister Mukul Sangma the bandh will be indefinite till governments assures and fulfills the demand of the outfit.” He, however, added that students appearing examinations will be allowed.
GNLA has demanded immediate suspension of policemen responsible for “fake encounter” and the magistrate, who were involved in probing the killing of village headman’s son, who was killed in an encounter earlier this week.
GNLA has sought an independent enquiry into the killing.
The GNLA informed that students appearing for various examinations, hospitals, pharmacies, ambulance, milk van, electricity department and individuals on emergencies would be exempted from the purview of the bandh.
“No public is to be seen in any places. All government and private institutions should be closed. Strong action will be taken against those defying the bandh call”, warned Garo Mandei Marak.
The GNLA is of the view that police is routinely being highhanded by harassing innocent people on mere suspicion. “Killing on mere suspicion in Garo hills by Meghalaya police is more than terrible and bloody”, said Marak.
Blaming the government for lawlessness, the GNLA asked what is the police expecting by killing innocent people without any proof and valid justification. “Are they up to please their superiors by killing people of Garo hills?” Marak questioned.
Hitting out at home minister Roshan Warjri, who had resigned last year owing moral responsibility for lawlessness in the state, GNLA asked why has she been inducted in the same portfolio.
Marak said in the statement, “Mukul’s government has cheated on the people of Garo hills. He does not care who get killed, harassed by police in the name of law and excess power, which is his free gift to police.”
Marak also said that the GNLA believes that the five bodies, which were exhumed from Mrigre village, near Rongram recently, were handiwork of the police. He claimed that the police over-ground workers executed them by dishonestly spreading gossip that they were practicing witchcraft..
The GNLA claimed that the entire village has denied having any knowledge about the deceased involvement in witchcraft practice. Marak said, “They were suspected by police to be GNLA overground workers, so the police spread rumors among villagers that they were practicing witchcraft.”
GNLA demanded justification on the killing of five year old on allegation of practicing witchcraft. GNLA blamed the police for their lack of intelligence.
On Mrigre village incident, the outfit also asked why the police were hesitant to register the case when the relatives of the deceased had informed the police.
On the killing of Sengbath Marak, son of village headman of Oragitok, killed on Wednesday last, the GNLA said that he was shot dead in connection with Mrigre village incident.
GNLA claimed that David Sangma, one of the five victims killed at Mrigre village was known to Sengbath and were close friends. The outfit said police feared that Sengbath would spill the beans about the threat issued to David.
The GNLA also questioned as to why no political leader or ministers from Garo hills visited the bereaved families. “They (political leaders) have betrayed their people”, Marak added.
The GNLA also castigated ngos for remaining silent on the issues affecting Garo hills. The outfit said excess power given to police must be stopped so that the younger generation may not be the next victim. -From Our Correspondent
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