SHILLONG, JUNE 7: The rage and anger of the gruesome killing of Josbina M Sangma, a mother of four, by militants in the remote village in Garo hills resonated in Shillong on Saturday with a silent protest organized by the Garo hills based ngos at Khyndailad with children also joining the adults in protest.
Children holding placards that read “Stop killing our parents,” “There is no honour in killing,” “Stop the killing, stop the violence,” “Terrorism brings nothing but tear”, “They are also your mothers and sisters” and “ We condemned killing of a mother” were seen shoulder to shoulder with their elders protesting against the killings of innocent people, especially a mother, by militants in Garo hills.
Garo Students’ Union – Khasi Hills Zone (GSU-KHZ) general secretary Zikku Balgna Marak told reporters, “Through this silence protest, we want to send a clear message to both the state government and militant outfits to stop all criminal activities against our people in the region,”
He said they also demand the immediate intervention by centre into the deteriorating law and order situation in Garo hills which is an outcome of the failure of the state government to handle the situation.
But Marak does not subscribe to the opposition’s demand for imposing President’s Rule as he felt this problem can be resolved by the state government by involving experts who can tackle and resolve the problem of militancy in the region.
According to Marak, the rise of militant groups is because of the soft approach and lack of seriousness on the part of the state government.
GSU public relation secretary Andy Momin was of the opinion that it is time for the state government to call all these militant groups operating in the region to the discussion table and resolve issues once for all. He said “We also demand all perpetrators of criminal activities be punished as per law.”
However Momin felt talks with militants alone is not enough and the state government should also come up with a policy that address all issues relating to insurgency problems including revamping of the police department.
Agreeing with the chief minister Mukul Sangma that most of the militant outfits do not have ideologies, Momin said, “If they have any ideologies, they why would they be killing our women and people.” He also said that the GSU demand that the compensation to the family Josbina be increase to Rs 7 lakh and free education should be provided to her children till they complete their graduation.
All India Garo Students Union (AIGU) president Elbert Marak demanded from the state government to bring back peace and harmony in Garo Hills.” He, however, said “Peace cannot be brought about without discussion. So the state government should take the initiative of calling all militant groups for peace talks.”
Comparing the 1990s when the ANVC was at its peak, AIGU vice president GG Momin said, “The present situation is worse than ever.”
Meanwhile, the ngos also appealed to all citizens of Garo hills including legislators to work together to ensure that peace prevail again in the region.- By Our Reporter
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