Tension escalates in Assam-Meghalaya border after brutal killing of labourer
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Shillong, July 22 2014: The brutal killing of a 30 year old casual labourer in the outskirts of the town of Tura in Meghalaya on Monday has escalated tensions along the Meghalaya-Assam border, with the SUCI announcing a protest march through the towns of Mankachar, Garobadha and South Salmara to protest the killing.

Miah (30) was working as a casual labourer in construction sites in the town of Tura and had Rs 5,000 in his pockets.

Initial reports indicate that he was killed in an attempt to loot the money in his possession.

The incident happened near Danakgre, about 8 kms from the town of Tura and Miah's body was found near the Montfort Centre, by children who were playing there.

According to his colleagues who worked with him in the building construction, Miah was on his way home when he was taken by these unknown miscreants after they had snatched his belongings.

The money he had in his possession was also taken before his head was smashed with a stone.

The post mortem of the body was done on Tuesday at Tura Civil Hospital even as Miah's family has rushed to Tura to identify the body after which the body was handed over to the family members.

"It is a clear case of murder.

The post mortem was conducted today and we have handed over his body to his family.

We have registered a case and investigation is on," said the Superintendent of Police (SP), West Garo Hills (WGH), Mukesh Singh.

The news of the macabre death of Miah has been met with resentment in the town of his birth, Mankachar.

Miah is a resident of Jordanga in the town and was only in Meghalaya to earn his living.

His family lived in the border of the South West Garo Hills (SWGH) and Assam.

The SUCI is all set to protest the killing on Wednesday through a black flag march organized in most border towns, including Mankachar, Hatsingimari and South Salmara.

On Monday, there had been a road blockade imposed to protest the spree of kidnappings and killings of traders from Assam in the Garo Hills region.

"We come to Garo Hills in search of work.

We are poor people, we work hard to survive.

If there is no security, how can we live here?" asked Mozibul Hussain, a vegetable vendor.

Most towns of the region have traders from Assam who supply provisions through various trades within the region and the traders have been demanding security for the many who ply their trade in the Garo Hills region.

The protest over the killing of Miah will be led by SUCI which has stated that it would submit another memo to the Administration to seek security.

President of SUCI Mankachar, Subudhjaman Mondal said, "We will hold a march through town and then submit a memo to the SDO � Civil in Hatsingimari.

The present situation of unrest in Garo Hills has been affecting everyone and we now fear for the lives of everyone from Mankachar who goes to the Garo Hills region" .

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