Shillong: At least 18 people, including two BJP Mahila Morcha members, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack on Chief Minister’s Office in Tura, the district headquarters of Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills on Monday night, a police official said on Tuesday.
Ten state police personnel, seven Central Reserve Police Force troopers and one Home Guard personnel were injured and many vehicles were damaged in the mob violence.
Deputy Magistrate of West Garo Hills, Jagdish Chelani imposed a night curfew in Tura town on Monday night from 9 pm to 5 am following the violence.
Educational institutions in Tura municipal area remained closed during the day as a precautionary measure in view of the situation.
However, business and government establishments are functioning.
A police official said two BJP Mahila Morcha Belina M Marak and Dilche Ch Marak were arrested late Monday night for instigating the mob to attack the CMO’s building
“We are now searching for two Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders for allegedly instigating a mob to attack the building when the Chief Minister (Conrad Sangma) was holding a meeting with the agitators,” a police official told UNI on condition of anonymity.
Chief Minister Sangma along with senior Cabinet Minister Marcuise Marak were holding talks with the agitating members of Achik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) and Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GHSMC), who have been staging an indefinite hunger strike for two weeks in Tura to put pressure on the government to comply with their demands.
Chief Minister was not injured in the attack. He had also announced a relief of Rs 50,000 for the injured policemen, who were admitted to a hospital and are currently out of danger.
The ACHIK has, meanwhile, said that none of its members were involved in the attack on the CMO at Tura.
“We are all satisfied with the outcome of the meeting with Chief Minister. We all know that the Chief Minister cannot take unilateral decision here in Tura outrightly on our demands. He told us that the entire cabinet and legislature have to take a call and has assured that he will do whatever he can,” ACHIK leader Laben Ch Marak said.
Marak said that the Chief Minister has invited the agitating groups for discussion in the presence of all stakeholders in Shillong, tentatively on August 8 or 9. (UNI)