OVER 18000 DISPLACED IN MEGHALAYA DUE TO ETHNIC STRIFE

Over 18,000 Garo and Rabha tribals have been displaced from their homes in Assam and Meghalaya due to ethnic clash between the two communities, however, the figure could increase, official sources said.

Relief team has been rushed from the state capital here to assist rehabilitation of victims, although the situation in East Garo Hills in Meghalaya and Goalpara district in Assam is far from normal.

“We have set up six relief and rehabilitation camps in Kharkutta, Mendhipathar, Dainadubi and Dilma in East Garo Hills district. There are over 3000 victims in the camps from both communities,” Deputy Commissioner, Pravin Bakshi said over the phone from Resubelpara in Garo Hills.

The district administration is taking all steps to provide blankets, clean and safe drinking water, food and medical assistance to the displaced victims.

“We are doing our best to ensure that no lives are lost. The medical team has been moving around in these camps to prevent outbreak of any disease,” Bakshi added.

In Goalpara district the number is much higher. PK Goswami, the Deputy Commissioner of Goalpara district said, by evening today 15,400 victims were lodged in 12 relief camps of the district. The victims are from both communities.

“We are providing all help to the victims. Security is a big concern now. Once that issue is addressed we would seriously look into rehabilitating the victims,” Goswami said over the phone.


Both the Deputy Commissioners have had telephonic conversations this morning and are coordinating to bring the situation under control. They both said although the situation, in their respective districts, is under control the overall law and order condition is far from satisfactory.

“No freash violence were reported today in the district,” Bakhsi and Goswami said about the law and order situation in their respective districts. The ethnic clash has claimed the lives of four people in Garo Hills yesterday. Several others were injured.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Peoples’ Human Rights Council (MPHRC) today demanded that both governments (Assam-Meghalaya) must take immediate steps to avoid further loses of lives.

It further urged that all incidents of human rights abuses in the context of the violence are thoroughly investigated and that the perpetrator(s) of the crime are promptly brought to justice.

The rights groups also demanded that steps must be taken so that people who were displaced due to such violence returns to their homes safely.

“The MPHRC emphasises the right of all the peoples who where displaced in the violence to voluntary return to their homes. It calls upon both the Government to ensure a safe and dignified environment for their return.”