Tension prevails in Meghalaya's Garo Hills

Tension prevails in Garo Hills in western Meghalaya following Sunday's killings of eight migrant coal miners by unidentified assailants, an official said here Wednesday.

"The situation is still tense but under control in Garo Hills. We are keeping a close watch on the prevailing situation," Commissioner of Divisions and in-charge of Garo Hills Peter W. Ingty told IANS.

The government has rushed in six companies of central paramilitary forces - four companies of Border Security Force and two companies of Central Reserve Paramilitary Force - to maintain law and order in Garo Hills region.

Prohibitory orders have been clamped under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), banning gathering of four or more people at one place in South and East Garo Hills. In West Garo Hills, the night curfew has been in place since Friday night.

Meanwhile, an official said that there is a panic among migrant workers, mainly from Assam, who fear fresh attacks on non-indigenous workers.

"At least 13,000 migrant workers have left Garo Hills and many more are leaving today (Wednesday) following the killings of the eight migrant coal miners from Assam," Pravin Bakshi, district magistrate of West Garo Hills, said.

"Adequate security has been put in place to maintain law and order," Bakshi added.

On Sunday night, eight migrant coal miners were killed and three others wounded at Garegittim and Nongalbibra areas in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district by a group of unidentified assailants.

The gruesome attack on the coal miners came after a mob turned violent while protesting an alleged bid to molest a mentally-challenged girl Friday night at Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills.