TURA, JAN 9: A power IED blast in Williamnagar market on Saturday afternoon has left nine people, including a woman, were injured. Five of the injured are said to be critical and three of them have been referred to Guwahati hospital.
The blast took place at a Wine shop around 12:45 pm.
The critically injured persons have been identified as Andrew R. Marak, 35 of Chekwegre village, Silvarinba D. Sangma, 41 of Warima locality in Williamnagar, Jolash Marak, 48 of Chekwegre village. The other injured have been identified as – Rosel Momin, 50, Jacob Marak, 29, Probit Marak, 22, Pledash Sangma, 48, Pisen Sangma and 72, Shyam Sharma, 16.
Police suspects that area commander of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) Ajan Momin alias Jimmy is behind the blast. “We have shifted all the injured persons to Williamnagar Civil hospital”, Meghalaya IGP (operations) GHP Raju informed.
Williamnagar legislator and Meghalaya social welfare minister Deborah Marak has condemned the blast. She is likely to visit Williamnagar town tomorrow to take stock of the situation from Shillong.
“At a time when we thought that New Year will usher in hope for renewed peace in Garo hills. The incident comes as a blot on the peace loving people of Garo hills. I strongly condemn the incident”, said Marak.
“We condemn any groups who have carried out the bomb-blast in the Williamnagar bazaar. This is an act of treason which seriously sets back the peace overtures extended by the union and state government. This kind of cowardly act is rendering the efforts of the ngos to bring peace to Garo hills useless”, said a Garo Students Union (GSU) statement immediately after the blast.
The GSU has urged militant outfits not to perpetrate such acts in the future as it is an act of terrorism and callous treatment to the lives of the people. “We request the government to take extra measures to ensure such incidents are controlled and secure the lives of its citizens”, the release added.
The GSU also demanded the arrest of the criminals who are behind the blast. “Horrendous acts of this nature bring hardships on its own people and it shows lack of ideology and their desperation. There can be no such ideology which espouses terrible hardships and grievous injuries on its own people. In the long run, the development of Garo hills will hit a roadblock for decades by such desperate measures”, the release said.
The GNLA is one of the most dreaded militant outfits led by commander-in-chief Sohan D. Shira. The outfit was formed by a deputy SP turned rebel Champion Sangma, who is lodged in Shillong jail.
The outfit is demanding for creation of separate Garoland carved out of Meghalaya, comprising of the five districts of Garo hills.
In the past few days, a total of five GNLA cadres had surrendered in North Garo Hills. The police were expecting that more rebels would abjure violence and come forward to surrender.-From Our Correspondent
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