Rebels' shutdown hits life in Meghalaya

Normal life in the western part of Meghalaya's Garo Hills was crippled Wednesday with the start of a two-day shutdown called by the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) demanding a separate Garoland state.

"Attendance in government offices was thin in all the five districts of Garo Hills region, but there was no report of any untoward incident," Pravin Bakshi, district magistrate of West Garo Hills, told IANS.

He said most vehicles remained off roads and shops were shut in the district.

Inspector General of Police (Western Range) H. Nongpluh said: "We are taking no chances and the (security) forces are watchful."

The GNLA had threatened to bomb several areas in Garo Hills.

Home Minister Roshan Warjri said combing operations against the rebels will continue in Garo Hills.

"All necessary steps have been taken to neutralise GNLA's anti-national activities," Warjri told IANS.

The Garo Hills State Movement Committee - a conglomeration of several Garo organisations and the Garo National Council, a political party based in Garo Hills - earlier called the shutdown to put pressure on the government to implement the Garoland statehood demand. However, the Committee had called off their shutdown.