Meghalaya and Assam teams meet
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Shillong, July 26 2014 : The ongoing situation of communal tensions was diffused to an extent after a meeting between the police and administration teams of Assam and Meghalaya met the residents of Hat Singimari sub-division today.

The meeting held at Hallidayganj in Meghalaya was attended by the SDOs (Civil) of Hatsingimari and Dadenggre in West Garo Hills (WGH) along with the SDPOs of both regions.

The Meghalaya team promised to try and ensure that things are kept under control while the NGOs promised to keep tensions from flaring up after the assurance.

The meeting was also attended by the SDO � Civil Hatsingimari, Ananta Lal Gyani and the SDPO Munindro Nath Dewri.

Sounding out their grievances in front of the Meghalaya team, the residents of Mankachar led by the NGOs implored for a stop to militancy so that traders can feel safe when going to Garo Hills.

"We have had demand notes served to people from our region who generally trade with Garo Hills.

Our brothers have been kidnapped and recently there have been murders.

They work as labourers to feed their families.

Militancy has driven fear into all those hearts," said the president of Nagarik Suraksha Committee, Samar Paul.

"Our demand has been to end militancy in Garo Hills so that everyone can feel safe.

The administration has to end the problems faced by the people.

Last year too there had been similar problems but that was between two civilian populations and we ensured things never got out of control," said the secretary of the Committee, Abdul Asif.

The team demanded protection from militant attacks as well as security in the weekly markets where trade happened in Garo Hills besides compensation for the victims.

"Two people from the area have been kidnapped since June 21, 2014 and no word has been received about their release though money was paid.

We would like to ask the administration to provide at least temporary relief for their families as they remain without any form of support.

They should be supported until their bodies are found," said an advocate who was also present at the meeting, Boktiar Hussain.

The SDO (Civil), Dadengre, S Sadhu, who represented the WGH district said, "The motive of the killings is ulterior and as such needs to be view that way.

The killings are motivated to divert attention from the anti-insurgency operations that are currently on.

We request everyone to understand the situation accordingly and help the state of Meghalaya to cope with the problems rather than adding to them" .

Sadhu further added that the compensation file has been sent for approval and should be completed within a day or two.

He also promised that the message of interim relief to the two missing persons would be given to the Deputy Commissioner (DC), WGH for perusal.

The NGOs and residents demanded a further meeting to be held either at Tura or in Hatsingimari so that things could be further worked out.

They requested the DCs of both WGH and South West Garo Hills (WGH) along with the police and NGOs of Garo Hills to be present in the meeting along with their counterparts from Dhubri to ensure that the tension is diffused.

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