Meghalaya: Night curfew imposed as violence erupts in Tura

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma was then holding talks with civil society groups on the demand for declaration of Tura as ‘winter capital’ of Meghalaya, besides reviewing the job reservation policy in the state.

Director General of Police L.R. Bishnoi said around six police personnel, including a woman police constable and a fireman were injured after the mob pelted stones at them.

“The Chief Minister is safe and sound,” he told UNI over the phone.

An ambulance carrying the injured police personnel to Tura Civil Hospital was also attacked by the mob.

“In order to disperse the mob, police resorted to ‘lathi’ charge and tear gas shelling. The situation is now under control. We have sent additional reinforcement to the area,” Bishnoi informed.

Chief Minister Sangma along with Cabinet Minister Marcuise Marak was holding talks with the agitating members of Achik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) and Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GHSMC), who have been staging an indefinite hunger strike for two weeks in Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills, to put pressure on the government to comply with their demands.

“The Chief Minister was having a peaceful discussion with agitating organisations for over 3 hours at the CMO in Tura. The Chief Minister had invited the agitating groups for discussion in presence of all stakeholders in Shillong tentatively on August 8 or 9,” the CMO said in a statement.

“Thousands of cowards, vested interest, in the words of agitating groups, not our people, gathered at ths CMO Tura and started pelting stones,” the statement said.

The ACHIK has, meanwhile, said that none of its members were involved in the attack on the CMO at Tura.

“We are all satisfied with the outcome of the meeting with the Chief Minister. We all know that the Chief Minister cannot take unilateral decisions here in Tura outrightly on our demands. He told us that the entire cabinet and legislature have to take a call and has assured that he will do whatever he can,” ACHIK leader Laben Ch Marak said.

Marak said that the Chief Minister has invited the agitating groups for discussion in the presence of all stakeholders in Shillong, tentatively on August 8 or 9.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 for injured personnel. Their entire medical expenses will be borne by the government.