Curfew lifted in Meghalaya’s riot-hit areas
January 19th, 2011 - 7:33 pm ICT by IANSMendipathar (Meghalaya), Jan 19 (IANS) Curfew was lifted in Meghalaya’s Resulbelpara sub-division Wednesday after 18 days, even as life returned to normal in the riot-hit areas bordering Assam’s Goalpara district.Amid massive security arrangements, life returned to near normalcy in the sub-division, which was rocked by ethnic violence between the Garo and the Rabha tribes that was sparked off on New Year’s Day.
“Curfew has been totally lifted from Resulbelpara after the situation returned to normal in the riot-hit areas,” Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi told IANS.
However, section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code banning the assembly of more than five people will continue to be in force as a precautionary measure.
Bakshi said 11 relief camps have been shut, while 4,657 internally displaced people were still sheltered in seven relief camps.
“We are expecting the remaining internally displaced people from the worst affected areas in Assam’s Chigisim, Hudakona, Kasikagra and Chutipara would return to their homes soon,” the district official said.
At least 10 people were killed and as many as 300 houses on both sides of the riot-hit areas of Assam’s Goalpara district and Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district were burnt.
Nearly 50,000 people have been displaced in the clashes.
Joint Secretary (Northeastern States) Shambu Singh had said the ethnic clashes between the two warring tribes on the Assam-Meghalaya border were “very well planned and there maybe some organisations behind it”.
“We will investigate and action will be taken against those who incited the clashes,” he said.
The influential Garo Students Union asked the central government to institute a commission of inquiry to probe the conflict.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has announced compensation of Rs.3 lakh to the next of kin of those killed and Rs.10,000 each for displaced families. The government would bear all expenses for the treatment of the injured.
Two peace committees - at the joint inter-district (East Garo Hills and Goalpara) and village levels - have been constituted as part of confidence building measures.
The committees have district officials, religious leaders and civil society groups from both the warring tribes as members.
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- Curfew re-imposed in Meghalaya's riot-hit areas - Jan 09, 2011
- Situation improving in Meghalaya's riot-hit areas: Minister (Lead) - Jan 08, 2011
- Curfew further relaxed in Meghalaya - Jan 08, 2011
- 1,800 displaced people returned home in Meghalaya - Jan 12, 2011
- Meghalaya announces compensation for riot victims - Jan 12, 2011
- 103 rioters arrested in Meghalaya, toll 10 (Lead) - Jan 10, 2011
- Meghalaya proposes joint patrols in riot-hit areas (Lead) - Jan 07, 2011
- Meghalaya politicians advised not to travel to Assam - Jan 08, 2011
- Assam-Meghalaya ethnic clash planned: Home ministry - Jan 10, 2011
- Meghalaya riot toll rises, curfew relaxed - Jan 07, 2011
- Curfew extended to more areas in Meghalaya after clashes - Jan 06, 2011
- Agatha Sangma, family escape mob fury in riot-hit Assam areas - Jan 08, 2011
- Meghalaya curfew relaxed - Jan 05, 2011
- Curfew lifted in Meghalaya - May 31, 2012
Tags: assam, bakshi, chief minister, commission of inquiry, deputy commissioner, district deputy, east garo hills, ethnic clashes, ethnic violence, garo hills district, goalpara district, lakh, mukul, normalcy, northeastern states, pravin, precautionary measure, relief camps, security arrangements, students union