Tura, Aug 19: A strong crowd of over 12,000 people today gathered at Resubelpara in North Garo Hills to voice their anger against rising insurgency in Garo hills and decided to make peace a “permanent
fixture”.
The rally condemned several ghastly acts of cold blooded murder, including that of Jospin M. Sangma and Bittu Patel. They also raised their anger against kidnapping of children, traders, bankers and
government officials.
The rally is an initiative of the Citizens Forum for Peace, a civil society group based in Resubelpara. Several school students also took part in today rally.Different speakers addressed the gathering at Dekachang playground, which followed with a rally through deputy commissioner and superintendent of police office at Resubelpara.
“We have lost faith in the government as they have failed to contain the situation. We have to stand united to send our voice of resent and anger”, said Dolly K. Sangma, a convenor of the peace initiative. He added, “Their fight for Garoland by killing people can never be justified. They have to come forward for peace and dialogue”.
Speaking before the crowd, an activist of the peace initiative, Khanin Momin said, “Militant highhandedness cannot continue forever. The violence has to stop at any cost. Nobody should claim that they are fighting for Garoland by killing innocent people and kidnapping”. Huge participation of students at the public rally displayed not just anger but frustration of the people against growing militancy.
“There is an absolute need for peace, so we have allowed our students to be part of the initiative”, said a sister of a convent school. Sonatchi Sangma, a class X student, who took part in the rally said,
“We want to send out a message that our parents, brothers and sister should not be kidnapped”.
A college student termed the growing incidents of kidnapping and cold-blooded murder as a “cowardly act”. “We can’t tolerate their actions anymore. It is going beyond our nerves. What are they trying
to prove by unleashing terror?” he asked. The people are of the view that their rally will send a clear message that such incidents have to come to an end.(SP News)
