SHILLONG, June 25 NNN: Tension continues to run high even as the state government is promulgating CrPC 144 in the West Garo Hills of Meghalaya following the murder of 8 labourers in coal mines on Sunday.
However, local NGOs are organisation peace meetings so that the situation does not go out of control.
The killing of the 8 labourers came amidst the tense atmosphere prompted by the act of five migrant labourers who had attempted to molest an eighteen years old mentally challenged girl in Wadangere in Garo Hills last week.
The district administration had immediately clamped curfew since Friday night to control the situation.
In the face of this ugly development, eight migrant labourers were killed and three others were critically injured in the remote village of South Garo Hills district late Sunday night.
Superintendent of Police, South Garo Hills district, Davis Marak said that some mischief mongers taking advantage of the present situation prevailing in Garo Hills region attacked eleven labourers at ‘three different coal mining queries’ at Garegittim area near Nongalbibra of South Garo Hills district on Sunday night at around 11 pm and also looted ready money from them.
“In one of the query seven migrant labourers were attacked and killed, in the other one laborer was butchered and in the third three labourers were attacked, who survived despite the brutal attack,” Marak said adding, “On enquiry we found out that only from the three injured persons, miscreants robbed Rs 80, 000.”
He also said that the present condition of the injured persons are stated to be critical by the examining Doctors and they have been immediately shifted for medical attention to Goalpara hospital (Assam), whereas the bodies of the other eight labourers have been sent for postmortem to Williamnagar Hospital.
The bodies recovered had puncture holes with sharp objects; some were also hit with iron rods.
The deceased has been identified as Babul Ali (17), Jirhul Islam (25), Harjit Ali (20), Fazir Ali, Modon Ali, Moinal Haque, Islam Ali and Shah Jahan Ali all hailing from different districts of Assam.
However, the injured has been identified as Zakir Ali (45), Mojial Ali (52) and Ahidur Islam (35) all from Assam.
When asked the SP the reason behind the killing, he said that these labourers had just received their wages in bulk and some mischief mongers knowing the fact attacked them. However, he also said that the department cannot deny the fact of linking the incident to communal flare by the miscreants.
“Our boys are kept on high alert. We have intensified patrolling at vulnerable places,” Marak said.
Marak however informed that the District Administration had banned mining in South Garo Hills district.
“Despite the order, these labourers are working in this queries which are located in the interior locations of the district. Operations teams are asked to evacuate these labourers with escorts to safer locations,” SP Marak asserted.
However, sources informed that the killing of these migrant labourers has no connection to the Tura’s incident on Friday, where five labourers tried to molest a mentally challenged girl.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/tension-at-garo-hill/
