Meghalaya announces compensation for riot victims

SHILLONG - The Meghalaya government Tuesday announced compensation of Rs.3 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Garo and Rabha tribes.

“An ex-gratia payment of Rs.3 lakh will be given to the next of kin of those killed in the ethnic clashes and bear all expenses required for treatment of the injured,” Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told journalists.

He also announced an amount of Rs.10,000 to each of the displaced families.

“The situation in the affected areas has been brought under control and the government is making all efforts to rehabilitate the displaced families,” Sangma said.

At least 10 people were killed and as many as 300 houses on both sides of the riot-hit areas of Assam’s Goalpara and Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district were burnt down.

Nearly 50,000 people have been displaced in ethnic clashes between Garos and Rabhas that sparked off on New Year’s Day.

The Meghalaya unit of the Congress too announced Rs.5 lakh for the affected families in the ethnic violence.

Curfew remained clamped in Meghalaya’s Resubelpara sub-division, even as it was limping to normalcy. Curfew was imposed in the area Jan 2.

“We are assessing the situation and curfew will be relaxed in a phased manner accordingly,” East Garo Hills District Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi told IANS.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya’s Director General of Police S.B. Kakati Monday visited the riot-hit areas and assessed the security situation there.

“The situation is under control, but normalcy has not yet come back due to excessive rumours creating confusion and panic amongst the people,” Kakati told IANS.

In all, 14 companies of security forces are deployed in the affected area. The forces are providing round-the-clock security in the strife-torn area and in relief camps.

On Monday, 103 people were arrested for rioting and arson in Meghalaya’s violence-hit East Garo Hills district following ethnic clashes between the two warring tribes.