The unrest began on Monday after former Phulbari legislator Estamur Momin was allegedly assaulted by protesters, who have been demanding that non-tribals should refrain from contesting or participating in the Garo Hills council elections.
Two people were killed after security forces opened fire to disperse violent mobs in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district early Tuesday, as tensions escalated over the nomination process for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections.
The incident took place in the Chibinang area, where clashes broke out between tribal and non-tribal groups, a report by news agency PTI said. West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Abraham T Sangma said the firing occurred when security forces tried to disperse an unlawful gathering.
“The two persons who died were residents of Chibinang. There was a clash between tribals and non-tribals regarding the GHADC elections, and the firing occurred while we were dispersing an unlawful assembly,” Sangma told PTI.
Authorities said the situation is currently under control. However, the district administration imposed a curfew across West Garo Hills from midnight on March 10 to prevent further escalation.
The Army was also called in to help restore normalcy.
Defence spokesperson Lt Col Mahender Rawat confirmed that Army units had been deployed in the district. “Army columns deployed in West Garo Hills on the request of civil administration and conducting a flag march,” Rawat told PTI.
He declined to specify the number of columns deployed. A standard Army column typically consists of 60–80 personnel.
Earlier, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vibhor Aggarwal had written to the Commanding Officer of the 101 Area under the Eastern Command, requesting the Army to conduct a flag march in sensitive areas.
In the communication, Aggarwal said the district had witnessed disturbances amid opposition to the participation of non-tribals in the GHADC elections.
“The presence of the armed forces through a flag march will greatly help in reassuring the public, preventing any further untoward incidents, and restoring confidence among the residents,” he said.
He also noted that recent unrest had triggered “communal tensions between two groups and public unrest,” adding that a visible security presence would demonstrate preparedness to maintain peace and stability.
VIOLENCE LINKED TO COUNCIL POLLS
The unrest began on Monday after former Phulbari legislator Estamur Momin was allegedly assaulted by protesters when he reached the deputy commissioner’s office in Tura to file his nomination for the GHADC polls scheduled for April 10.
Protesters have been demanding that non-tribals should refrain from contesting or participating in the council elections.
Following the violence, authorities suspended mobile internet services in West Garo Hills for 48 hours starting March 10 to prevent the spread of misinformation on social media. Voice calls and SMS services remain operational.
Security has also been strengthened at nomination centres. The filing of nomination papers for the GHADC elections will continue till March 16, while scrutiny of nominations is scheduled for March 17.