Shillong, March 10: Social Actives and Advisor to the CoMSO Mr. Cherian Momin of West Garo Hills District today sent petition to the Commissioner and Secretary District Council Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya seeking reconsideration and temporary recall of the election process to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the Garo Hills region.
The Social Actives urged the government for deployment of additional State and Central security forces, issuance of official clarification by the Government, and facilitation of a peace dialogue between communities.
“ I, Cherian Momin, a concerned citizen and social activist from the Garo Hills submit this petition before the Government of Meghalaya as concerned citizen and social activist from the Garo Hills region, most respectfully submit this petition before the Government of Meghalaya regarding the grave and deteriorating law and order situation presently prevailing in several parts of Garo Hills in connection with the ongoing electoral process for the General Elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC)”.
Mr. Monin submitted that the Government of Meghalaya, through the extraordinary issue of the Gazette of Meghalaya dated 9 March 2026 issued by the District Council Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya under Notification No. DCA.47/2025/2, has formally notified the schedule for the conduct of the General Elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council under the provisions of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951.
The notification prescribes the schedule of the electoral process including the last date for filing of nomination on 16 March 2026, scrutiny of nominations on the same day, withdrawal of nominations on 17 March 2026, publication of valid nominations and allocation of symbols on 18 March 2026, polling on 10 April 2026 and counting of votes on 14 April 2026.
However, it is with deep concern that it must be brought to the attention of the Government that the law and order situation in parts of the Garo Hills region has deteriorated significantly in the past few days. The present unrest appears to have escalated following an incident that occurred when former legislator Esmatur Mominin arrived at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Tura to submit his nomination papers for the forthcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.
According to widely circulated reports, tensions erupted during this event and the situation subsequently escalated, leading to heightened communal sensitivities and disturbances in several localities. The said incident appears to have acted as a catalyst that triggered a chain of developments which have aggravated the already fragile law and order situation in the region.
Following the above developments, several incidents of unrest and disturbances have been reported from different locations across the district of West Garo Hills. Commercial establishments were reportedly vandalised and several shops were gutted by fire in the area of Chibinang Bazar, resulting in damage to property and severe disruption of normal economic activities. Such acts of destruction have not only caused financial losses to traders and residents but have also intensified tensions between communities.
Further alarming incidents have also been reported where two vehicles were set ablaze near Gurjoo Studio and near the MPRO Office in West Garo Hills, creating panic among the local population and further aggravating the volatile atmosphere in the district. Acts of arson and destruction of property demonstrate the fragile nature of the present situation and underscore the urgent necessity for strong administrative intervention.
Additionally, the situation further deteriorated when law enforcement authorities were compelled to take action against unlawful assemblies during the enforcement of curfew. It has been officially confirmed by the Superintendent of Police of West Garo Hills, Abraham T Sangma, that two individuals lost their lives during police firing when security personnel attempted to disperse a violent crowd during night curfew enforcement. The loss of human life under such circumstances is deeply tragic and reflects the seriousness of the current crisis.
In response to the escalating unrest, the District Administration of West Garo Hills imposed a 24-hour curfew across the entire district in order to prevent further disturbances and restore law and order. Furthermore, the District Magistrate of West Garo Hills, Vibhor Aggarwal, reportedly requested the assistance of the Indian Army to conduct flag marches in the plain-belt villages which have been affected by the unrest.
These developments clearly demonstrate that the region is presently experiencing a serious law and order crisis marked by communal tension, destruction of property, casualties, and large-scale security restrictions. Under such circumstances, the continuation of the electoral process may further aggravate tensions and create additional risks to public safety.
In a constitutional democracy, elections must be conducted in an atmosphere of peace, stability, and public confidence. If the electoral process proceeds in a situation where the public environment remains volatile and insecure, it may undermine the credibility of the democratic exercise and may further deepen the ongoing tensions.
In view of these circumstances, it is respectfully submitted that the Government of Meghalaya may kindly review the prevailing situation and consider the necessity of temporarily recalling or reconsidering the ongoing election process to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council until such time that the lawand order situation stabilizes and normalcy is fully restored across the region.
It is further humbly requested that the Government urgently strengthen the security apparatus in the vulnerable and sensitive areas of the Garo Hills plain belt and adjoining localities. The deployment of additional personnel from the Meghalaya Police together with reinforcements from Central Armed Police Forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force and the Border Security Force would play a crucial role in restoring public confidence and preventing further disturbances.
The current situation has also given rise to considerable confusion and competing interpretations regarding the constitutional provisions governing the functioning of the Autonomous District Council system under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
In order to address these concerns, it is respectfully requested that the District Council Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya issue a comprehensive and authoritative clarification explaining the legal framework governing the GHADC elections and the constitutional safeguards relating to the powers and jurisdiction of the District Council.
Furthermore, in the interest of restoring communal harmony and preventing further escalation, it is earnestly requested that the Government facilitate a peace meeting between representatives of both communities, involving civil society organisations, traditional leaders, community elders, and administrative authorities. Constructive dialogue under the guidance of the Government would help address grievances, dispel misunderstandings, and reaffirm the commitment of all stakeholders toward peaceful coexistence.
The people of Garo Hills have historically maintained a culture of harmony and mutual respect among diverse communities, and it is imperative that every effort be made to preserve this social fabric and restore normalcy in the region.
In view of the foregoing circumstances, this petition is submitted wi respect and with full faith in the wisdom and constitutional responsibility of the Government of Meghalaya. It is sincerely hoped that the Government will take urgent and appropriate measures to restore peace, strengthen security arrangements, legal framework governing the electoral process, and facilitate dialogue between communities so that stability and normalcy may return to the region.
The undersigned therefore humbly prays that the District Council Affairs Department, Government such administrative and legal measures as may be necessary in the larger interest of public peace, constitutional governance, and democratic stability in the Garo Hills region said Mr. Cherian Momin Activist and Adviser CoMSO Tura, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya in his pettion.
