SHILLONG:
Members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (MLAs) belonging to the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-2) government have expressed serious concern and anguish over the violent attack in Tura on Monday.
The MLAs strongly condemned what they termed as uncalled for acts of violence and expressed deep sadness and grief over the unfortunate incident.
The statement signed by MLAs of the MDA-2, while condemning the violent incident stated that Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma had gone to Tura to meet the protestors, who were on an indefinite hunger strike, with an intention to discuss and amicably resolve the issue related to creation of winter capital and reservation roster.
The chief minister and PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak and other officials on Monday had a discussion with representatives of the groups who were on hunger strike when the situation took a turn for the worse. Some anti-social elements resorted to shouting slogans, pelting stones, and setting ablaze police vehicles. Two fire tender vehicles were also vandalised due to the violence.
The incident also left several security personnel injured.
The MLAs appeal to the public of the state to maintain peace and refrain from participating in such heinous and unlawful acts.
Furthermore, they demanded that strong action should be taken against the perpetrators involved in the Tura incident to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions and to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
Criminal conspiracy: NPYF
The National People’s Youth Front (NPYF) has termed the mob attack at the Chief Minister’s Office in Tura as a criminal conspiracy to derail the peaceful discussion between Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, and the representatives of ACHIK, GHSMC and others on Monday.
Vehemently condemning the incident in a statement, the NPYF said, “The chaos, and the attack at the CMO Tura, tantamount to a criminal conspiracy by these anti-social elements.”
“We strongly denounce the attack, which could have harmed the person of the CM. The action of the perpetrators is a nefarious design of these hooligans, who had come to the venue with a preconceived plan to disturb the peace.”
The statement said that the demand for a winter capital in Tura is a legitimate concern of the people of Garo Hills, and it deserves a constructive political dialogue involving all stakeholders.
“It is disheartening to witness the cowardly acts of certain anti-social groups, who, without any genuine concern for the Garos, had resorted to pelting stones at the CMO Tura during the meeting. Such actions reflect a complete disregard for the welfare of the community and undermine the efforts to find a resolution through peaceful means.”
The statement said that the chief minister had agreed to meet the groups near the hunger strike venue, where the groups were agitating, and this shows that he was genuinely concerned.
“While we strongly condemn the action of these hooligans, we reiterate that NPYF supports any form of peaceful demonstration for the greater cause of the society in alignment with the principles of the right to protest. We acknowledge the intervention and development initiatives taken by the CM for the progress and development of the state,” it said.