Pledge for peace in Garo hills held in Tura

TURA, AUG 17: It was a display of public anger against rising insurgency in Garo hills as huge  crowd participate in “Shalom Meghalaya” campaign at MP Stadium, Dakopgre in Tura on Sunday. The campaign is an initiative to strengthened and sustain peace in Garo hills by religious organisations led by Catholic and Baptist Church.

It was indeed a special Sunday to be remembered as people vowed their pledge for peace. Religious leaders from all communities read out scriptures to set the ball rolling for a year-long campaign aimed at boosting the morale of the people hit by insurgency.

A perfect display of unity to restore peace in Garo hills, flagged of by Archbishop of Guwahati, Rt. Rev. John Moolachira, Bishop of Tura, Rt. Rev. Andrew Marak, president and general secretary of A’chik Baptist Dalgipa Krima, Rev. R. D. Shira and Rev. Janang Sangma.

Garo hills region has seen rising cases of insurgency in the past three months and several outfits have made attempts to destabilize peace by unleashing reign of terror.

Speaking before the huge crowd of about 10,000, Rt. Rev. Moolachira said, “Peace is the need of the hour”. He exhorted that the terrible situation has to change. Quoting Abraham Lincoln, he dwelt on the loss of life and property because of militants’ activities.

He said, “Violence is senseless which does no good to anyone and resisting violence through violence is not the solution. Violence only retards the growth of society and has multiple negative effects”. He further said that resistance to injustice and change can be brought about only through education of the youth and treating them with equality and respect.

West Garo hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi spoke at length on the urgency of peace in Garo hills stating the movement of peace is nothing less than a holy war to bring about peace in the region. He said, “The fact that thousands have turned out for the programme in itself is a manifestation of the people’s desire of peace and a positive surcharged atmosphere.”

Rev Janang Sangma said that there can be no justification in the means adopted by the militants and Garo hills is sinking in lawlessness. He further said that change of heart can only bring about effective changes and the situation in Garo hills needs collective action and it is time for introspection for everyone concerned.

Rt. Rev Andrew Marak, who is also the chief convenor of Shalom Meghalaya, urged the militants to come back to the mainstream.

Representative of minority communities, Ajanta Deb spoke on the need of living in harmony. She said man has stopped living and just exists because the earlier mantra of living was live and let live. “The principles of fellowship, forgiveness, love and harmony needs to be revisited”, she said.

As a prelude to the peace movement, an inter faith candle light vigil service was held on Saturday.

People who had assembled at the venue than took a pledge for peace and the caravan van was flagged off.

Fr. Sunny, who is associated with the campaign said, “The movement through various intervention like public gatherings and prayer meetings will make an effort to instill hope and confidence among the people in Garo hills”.

He elaborated by saying that their purpose is also to make an appeal to the militants to shun violence and follow the path of peace.  He said, “We will initiate one lakh signatures and will submit a petition to the President of India seeking security to life and property”.

The campaign will also press the government, both state and centre, to set up counselling centers for safe surrender of militants in Garo hills.

The deplorable law and order situation in Garo hills has earned it the title of the “new terror destination”. The insurgents groups have been randomly kidnapping and killing people. Last week, a petrol pump worker was shot dead on the outskirt of Tura. In June, a women’s head was blown off in front of her four minor children and husband.

Till July 2014, 169 militants were arrested, 27 killed. At least 13 civilians were killed by militants, and over 100 abductions took place.

As per government report at least 20 policemen were killed in insurgent activities in the last five years, of which 93 civilians and 95 militants.

The report says that 124 kidnapping took place over the years in the state. The figure is alarming shooting up this year, as kidnapping has become an order of the day. In last five years, 508 militants were arrested and 92 militants surrendered.- From Our Correspondent