30,000 DISPLACED IN MEGHALAYA

Meghalaya and Assam governments is staring at a
major humanitarian crisis with over 30,000 people displaced from their
homes so far due to outbreak of ethnic clash between Garos and Rabhas.
Both the state governments are setting up relief camps to accommodate
the sea of displaced people in East Garo Hills and Goalpara districts
of Meghalaya and Assam respectively.
In East Garo Hills, ten relief camps have been set up so far. “We have
at least 5400 displaced people in these camps from both Rabha and Garo
communities in the last count and it has been reported that another
30,000 are in various camps of Assam,” Meghalaya Chief Secretary, WMS
Pariat told reporters here today.
The centre has also rushed in five companies of paramilitary troops in
the trouble-torn areas. Another five companies is accepted anytime to
take stock of the law and order situation.
“The situation is yet to improve, but under control and no fresh
incidences of violence were reported today,” Pariat said.
East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said there were no
reports of violence reported in East Garo Hills. “However, the border
with Assam is tense with lots of rumours doing the rounds and people
are naturally perturbed,” Bakshi added.
The district administration in East Garo Hills, meanwhile, is
struggling to provide basic amenities to the inmates of the camp and
with the winter chill apprehension of people falling sick is looming
large.
“The supplies are drying up in the all the three districts of Garo
Hills as the curfew and blockade by various groups on the main supply
route is hampering delivery of essential commodities,” he added.
Director General of Civil Defense and Home Guards WR Marbaniang said
20-25 of his men are deployed in the strife-torn areas providing help
to the displaced people. “We are in-charge of one of the relief camps
in Garo Hills,” Marbaniang said.
However, the Meghalaya government is trying to get essential
commodities and petroleum with the help of security forces, he said.
Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh visited the affected people in
relief camps of East Garo Hills. He also held meetings with various
political and Church leaders of the area and took stock of the
situation.