Curfew lifted in Meghalaya’s riot-hit areas
By IANSWednesday, January 19, 2011
MENDIPATHAR - Curfew was lifted in Meghalaya’s Resulbelpara sub-division Wednesday after 18 days, even as life returned to normal in the riot-hit areas bordering Assams Goalpara district.
Amid massive security arrangements, life returned to near normalcy in the sub-division, which was rocked by ethnic violence between the Garo and the Rabha tribes that was sparked off on New Year’s Day.
Curfew has been totally lifted from Resulbelpara after the situation returned to normal in the riot-hit areas, Meghalayas East Garo Hills district Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi told IANS.
However, section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code banning the assembly of more than five people will continue to be in force as a precautionary measure.
Bakshi said 11 relief camps have been shut, while 4,657 internally displaced people were still sheltered in seven relief camps.
We are expecting the remaining internally displaced people from the worst affected areas in Assams Chigisim, Hudakona, Kasikagra and Chutipara would return to their homes soon, the district official 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 district and Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district were burnt.
Nearly 50,000 people have been displaced in the clashes.
Joint Secretary (Northeastern States) Shambu Singh had said the ethnic clashes between the two warring tribes on the Assam-Meghalaya border were “very well planned and there maybe some organisations behind it”.
“We will investigate and action will be taken against those who incited the clashes,” he said.
The influential Garo Students Union asked the central government to institute a commission of inquiry to probe the conflict.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has announced compensation of Rs.3 lakh to the next of kin of those killed and Rs.10,000 each for displaced families. The government would bear all expenses for the treatment of the injured.
Two peace committees - at the joint inter-district (East Garo Hills and Goalpara) and village levels - have been constituted as part of confidence building measures.
The committees have district officials, religious leaders and civil society groups from both the warring tribes as members.
