Two individuals lost their lives in police firing during curfew hours in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district. The incident occurred in Chibinang village, escalating tensions just before the upcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) on April 10. Security forces intervened as a group gathered despite night curfew restrictions in sensitive areas of the district.
The situation turned volatile when authorities tried to disperse the crowd, prompting security personnel to resort to firing. The identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed. Following the incident, the district administration imposed a full-day curfew across West Garo Hills to prevent further unrest. Additional security measures have been implemented in vulnerable areas to uphold law and order.
Night curfew restrictions, initially imposed in select areas, have now been extended district-wide to avoid any escalation of tensions. The move comes amidst protests against the participation of non-tribal candidates in the GHADC election process. Efforts for administrative coordination have intensified along the Assam-Meghalaya border, with officials from both states reviewing security preparedness ahead of the elections.
Authorities stress the importance of close coordination between districts to ensure peace and stability along the border during the election period. The meeting between officials from Assam’s Goalpara district and Meghalaya’s North Garo Hills district aimed at strengthening cooperation in the border regions. Senior officials, including North Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Saini, participated in the meeting.
