Agatha Sangma, family escape mob fury in riot-hit Assam areas
January 8th, 2011 - 1:17 am ICT by IANSShillong, Jan 7 (IANS) Minister of State for Rural Development Agatha K. Sangma, her brother and Meghalaya’s Leader Of Opposition Conrad K. Sangma and their father and former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A. Sangma Friday had a narrow escape from mob fury in the riot-hit areas of Assam’s Goalpara district. The Sangmas found their way blocked by a mob while visiting a Rabha relief camp at Chotimati village.
“The mob armed with lethal weapons blocked our way with burning tyres. We managed to escape unhurt from the area only after Assam Police fired few rounds in the air to disperse the mob,” Conrad Sangma told IANS from Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills in western Meghalaya.
The trio were visiting the relief camp at the Chotimati after visiting the other relief camps in the riot-hit areas in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district.
Over 30,000 people have been displaced from their homes so far due to ethnic clashes between Garo and Rabha tribals along the Assam-Meghalaya border.
Altogether, eight people have died in the violence that sparked off on New Year’s Day.
Meanwhile, the East Garo Hills district administration Friday advised ministers and legislators not to go to riot-hit areas in Assam without prior permission from district authorities.
- Meghalaya politicians advised not to travel to Assam - Jan 08, 2011
- Curfew further relaxed in Meghalaya - Jan 08, 2011
- Meghalaya chief minister to complain against Agatha - Jan 12, 2011
- Mukul Sangma a nervous chief minister: NCP - Jan 14, 2011
- Meghalaya proposes joint patrols in riot-hit areas (Lead) - Jan 07, 2011
- Four killed in Meghalaya ethnic clash, army called in (Lead) - Jan 06, 2011
- Curfew re-imposed in Meghalaya's riot-hit areas - Jan 09, 2011
- Curfew extended to more areas in Meghalaya after clashes - Jan 06, 2011
- Assam-Meghalaya ethnic clash planned: Home ministry - Jan 10, 2011
- Day curfew lifted in Meghalaya's riot-hit areas - Jan 14, 2011
- Curfew lifted in Meghalaya's riot-hit areas - Jan 19, 2011
- 1,800 displaced people returned home in Meghalaya - Jan 12, 2011
- Situation improving in Meghalaya's riot-hit areas: Minister (Lead) - Jan 08, 2011
- Meghalaya announces compensation for riot victims - Jan 12, 2011
- Meghalaya CM rejects Agatha Sangma's accusation on Rabha-Garo clashes - Feb 27, 2011
Tags: agatha, assam police, district administration, district authorities, district headquarters, east garo hills, few rounds, garo hills district, goalpara district, jan 7, leader of opposition, lethal weapons, Lok Sabha, minister of state, narrow escape, purno, relief camps, shillong, tribals, west garo hills