TURA, JUNE 4: The gruesome murder of a 35-year-old woman after she resisted an attempt to allegedly rape her at Goera Rongat, near Chokpot in South Garo hills by suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), has send shockwave across the violent ridden Garo hills districts.
The woman, mother of four minor children was killed yesterday evening around 6:30 pm.
The woman’s head was blown by the shots of guns.
Goera Rongat, a highly militancy infested region in South Garo Hills is about 80 km from Tura.
The incident has outraged everybody and Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma condemned the heinous crime. “I condemn the ghastly act of the militants in the strongest possible word. Every right thinking citizen should condemn it”.
Home minister, Roshan Warjiri termed the killing as “shocking” and said it was a cold-blooded murder”. The minister is holding a meeting with Meghalaya DGP Peter Hanaman to review the law and order situation in the Garo hills.
Warjri said, “I will send a team led by senior police officers to Garo hills to take stock of the situation.”
Inspector General Police IGP (operations), GHP Raju said, “The group of militants locked her husband in the house, and attempted to rape, in presence of her four minor children. They were around 5 armed militants. Her head was completely blown off, they used AK rifle and fired 5 to 6 shots on her head”.
He confirmed that the incident is a handiwork of GNLA, led by its Chokpot area commander Kiljang R. Sangma. “The militant have branded the family as a police informer. It is a gruesome murder of an innocent lady”, he said.
Terming the incident as barbaric and inhumane, social welfare minister Deborah Marak condemned the incident. “It is very unfortunate that a mother of four was killed by the militants in presence of her four children. It is sad and depressing to hear such reports of chaos from remote insurgency hit villages of Garo hills”.
Marak said her department will hold a meeting to discuss the issue and apprise the home minister and chief minister.
Condemning the incident, Tura Lok Sabha MP Purno Agitok Sangma said, “Violence against woman is increasing in Meghalaya. National People’s Party will meet union minister of state for home Kiran Rijiju to brief him about the ongoing law and order problem in the state”.
Chief opposition whip and NPP legislator James K Sangma asked, “When will the government wake up? How many more killings will take place?”
The opposition in Meghalaya will be raising the law and order problem of Garo hills in the upcoming assembly session, which begins from June 6.
Social networking site is abuzz with condemnation pouring in from all over.- From Our Correspondent
