Internet services suspended in Garo Hills after locals protest

The Garo Hills administration in Meghalaya today snapped Internet services in the region after locals staged a protest demanding the removal of GHADC Forest Advisory Committee chairman for allegedly criticising them on social media.

Garo Hills Autonomous District Council Forest Advisory Committee chairman Sofiur Rehman has angered the residents by allegedly writing anti-Garo posts on social media.

An elected member of District Council of Balachanda from the BJP, Rehman has dismissed the posts, saying his social media account was hacked.

The precautionary measure to snap Internet services was likely triggered by the recent clashes between the local Khasi people and Sikh community members in state capital Shillong.

SMS and Internet services were suspended in Garo Hills comprising five districts in western Meghalaya to curb the spread of rumours, official sources said.

The order came through Additional Chief Secretary MS Rao after a report was submitted by the Meghalaya DGP about a serious law and order situation developing in the region, the sources said.

The service were suspended at 3 pm for 48 hours after which the situation in the region would be reviewed, they said.

In Shillong, Internet services remained suspended as the clashes between Sikh residents in the city's Punjabi Lane area and Khasi drivers of state-run buses were fanned by rumours on social media.

Today, a number of members of various NGOs marched to the office of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council and surrounded it, demanding Rehman's removal. Later, they handed a letter mentioning their demands to GHADC chief executive member Dipul Marak.

Several NGOs previously too have demanded Rehman's removal as they were against the appointment of a non-indigenous person to the post.

Earlier today, when Rehman reached his office, it was surrounded by NGO members. Though the situation was tense, the agitators refrained from getting physical. Police parties quickly rushed to the spot to ensure there was no escalation.

"Our teams are monitoring the situation," Superintendent of Police MGR Kumar said.

When contacted, Marak confirmed he had met the protesting NGO members and received a letter containing their demands.