Tura violence: CID probes

SHILLONG, JULY 13: West Garo hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi informed that the CID is inquiring into the Tura mob violence and another inquiry has been instituted to find rumour mongers responsible in aggravating the violent situation recently.

Bakshi revealed this during a meeting with Dhubri deputy commissioner Kumud Chandra Kalita, Mankachar MLA Javed Islam, ngos and civil societies from Assam including AAMSU, South Salmara-Mankachar unit on Friday.

The meeting between Bakshi and the Assam official, ngos and Islam took place as the West Garo hills district administration is taking proactive steps to bring back normalcy in Garo hills after the Tura mob violence.

Bakshi had gone to Assam for the meeting accompanied by the Meghalaya power minister Clement R Marak and members of the United Christian Peace Forum. The meeting was held at Haatsingimari in Lower Assam.

During the meeting Assam ngos demanded adequate security for migrant workers, a high level inquiry into the incident at Tura, compensation for victims, report on the status of the two accused who are presently under police custody and corrective measures for the alleged termination from their workplace of migrant workers who fled Garo Hills during the violence at Tura.

Marak emphasizing on the need for the people from both sides to work towards peace and urged them not to blow up the present situation on communal lines. He stated that the communities from Assam and Meghalaya had since ages lived peaceful and that both the sides were interdependent on each other.

On behalf of the West Garo hills district Marak later handed over an Rs 3 lakhs as ex-gratia compensation to the next of kin of Md Manehar Ali who lost his life in the mob violence that shook Tura.

Bakshi assured that adequate security measures had been made to ensure safety of migrant workers. Regarding the two who have been arrested he informed as they are underage they are presently lodged at the Juvenile Home at Shillong pending investigation. – By Our Reporter