Curfew relaxed in Meghalaya

Curfew was Saturday relaxed for eight hours in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district, two days after it was imposed following mob violence over the death of a suspected militant in police custody, officials said.

Witson Sangma was arrested on charges of supplying explosives to the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA). He was found dead in police lockup Wednesday.

This was the second death in police custody this month. Balsan Marak, 20, accused of illegally confining, kidnapping and torturing 12 women, died at the Tura Civil Hospital May 20.

Curfew was Saturday relaxed for eight hours - from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"The night was peaceful and there were no reports of any untoward incident in the curfew-bound areas," Additional District Magistrate T.G. Momin told IANS over phone.

He said Sangma's body was Saturday handed over to relatives after the post-mortem examination.

Civil society groups, including the Garo Student's Union have announced a non-cooperation movement June 2 in the five districts of Garo Hills over the custodial deaths.

The groups are demanding a CBI or a judicial inquiry into the deaths.