TURA: The situation in West Garo Hills district has turned tense following violence linked to the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections, prompting authorities to impose curfew and deploy additional security forces.
According to Commisioner and Secretary incharge of District Council Affairs CVD Diengdoh, the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills has enforced a two-day curfew on March 11 and 12 as a precautionary measure after protests erupted over the participation of non-tribal candidates in the district council polls. The district administration said the situation is under close watch.
Security has been strengthened in Tura, where personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed in sensitive areas to maintain law and order. A column of the Indian Army also carried out a flag march on Tuesday evening in Chibinang and Rajabala to reassure residents and deter further unrest.
Authorities have directed deputy commissioners across the region to hold peace committee meetings and remain in constant contact with community leaders, religious leaders and civil society groups. The administration has appealed to the public to maintain peace to ensure a smooth electoral process.
The unrest has affected the nomination process in West Garo Hills, although officials said nominations in other districts are continuing normally. To address the curfew restrictions, the district administration has put in place a system allowing prospective candidates to coordinate with returning officers, with the Deputy Commissioner facilitating arrangements for the filing of nomination papers.
Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding the requirement of a Scheduled Tribe certificate for candidates contesting the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council elections is currently under consideration by the Meghalaya High Court. The issue has been challenged through separate petitions, including a public interest litigation. Although an earlier PIL was withdrawn, two new petitions have since been filed and the matter remains pending before the court.
Some groups have also called for postponing the elections, but authorities said the polls will proceed as scheduled for now. The nomination process is underway and will continue until March 16.
Officials said the government will continue to monitor developments and take further steps to restore normalcy. Additional security personnel and district magistrates have been deployed in sensitive areas.
Preliminary reports indicate that two people have died in the violence, though authorities are awaiting confirmation and further details regarding other casualties or arrests.
Officials noted that similar tensions have arisen in the past over the issue of non-tribal participation in district council elections, but stressed that precautionary measures, including security deployment, were already in place to manage the situation.
