Tura, 25th September: The GNLA called bandh in the Garo Hills region passed off peacefully with no incidents reported from anywhere. The GNLA has called the two day bandh which is to continue till tomorrow demanding statehood, the revocation of counter insurgency operations against the group as well as the unconditional release of the 25 arrested GHSMC activists.
The bandh call was completely successful with people not venturing out in the open fearing reprisal from the group. The whole region was kept under vigil by paramilitary forces as well as local police and till the bandh was over, no incidents were reported from anywhere within the region.
The SP of West Garo Hills, Mukesh Kr Singh said, “We have not had any report from anywhere of any form of violence. Our teams are monitoring the situation and being extra vigilant. There was a tyre burst yesterday near Asanang which was mistakenly thought to be a grenade blast. After investigation by our Bomb Squad as well as a visit from our team, it was determined to be a tyre burst from a local depot. We are however keeping a tight check throughout the region”. The incident had caused a lot of tension within the Garo Hill region as it came close to the bandh call.
Sources revealed that the GNLA was serious in the bandh being observed everywhere in Garo Hills and had even deployed cadre to monitor. The bandh is being observed from 5am in the morning to 4pm in the evening on the 25th and 26th of September.(SP News)
