TURA, JUNE 2: The 12 hours bandh called as the non-cooperation movement by a conglomeration of Garo hills based ngos was total and peaceful in all the the five districts in Garo hills.
Business establishment, educational and financial institutions and even government offices were closed from 5 am to 5pm on Monday.
The bandh spearheaded by Garo Students Union (GSU) and North East Students Organisation (NESO) has been called to pressurize the state government to institute a CBI or a judicial probe into the two recent custodial deaths of Balsan Marak and Witson M. Sangma.
Balsan, an undertrial prisoner, had died in a government hospital on May 20, whereas, Witson, a suspected overground worker of Garo
National Liberation Army (GNLA), died in police lock-up at Chokpot in South Garo Hills on May 28 sparking a bout of violence and public outrage.
Balsan was arrested on May 13 and Witson on May 27.
Today most of the government offices remained closed. However,t he deputy commissioner’s office was functioning in all the five districts but attendance was very thin attendance. All educational institutes, business establishment were shut and vehicles remained off the road.
West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi said, “Magistrates and senior officers are on duty. All other government offices have
seen very low attendance”. “In the district coordination meeting, one of our agenda was that during protest and agitations, government employees should attend office without fail”, he added.
GSU president Tengsak Momin has threatened to intensify their stir if government fails to constitute a CBI or a judicial probe immediately. He said, “We don’t have faith in the state government enquiry or a magisterial probe”.
An activist of the Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) Pritam Marak said, “We thank the people for supporting our fight for justice for Balsan Marak. We have resolved to carry on the fight until our demands are met”.
Meghalaya government has constituted a high level probe headed by commissioner of division (Garo hills) Peter J Ingty to probe the judicial custodial death of Balsan’s along with a magisterial probe.
The administration in South Garo hills district has also constituted a magisterial probe to inquire into Witson Sangma’s custodial death.- By Our Correspondent
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