Shillong, March 26: Seething Garo organisations today decided to put off their agitation over the Meghalaya Board of School Education Amendment Bill till after the school examinations but they made no secret of their displeasure over the move.

In Tura, various government offices and buildings were damaged in arson attacks during the past 24 hours. NGOs and student organisations erupted on Friday when the amended bill was passed in the Assembly.

The West Garo Hills administration has clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 all over the district. In East and South Garo Hills, the district administrations are monitoring the situation.

West Garo Hills deputy commissioner P. Sampat Kumar held two separate meetings with the Garo Students? Union (GSU) and NGOs last evening. He urged the student leaders to see reason and call off their agitation in the interest of the student community. The plea was heeded today.

The agitation was called off by former Lok Sabha Speaker and Tura MP Purno A. Sangma. He cut short his campaign tour of Assam and rushed to his constituency.

He described the Assembly?s decision to pass the amendment bill as a move that was ?disrespectful of the sentiments of the Garo people? and against the interests of the Garos.

A meeting was held between the veteran MP and agitating organisations, including the GSU.

Sangma announced that a 10-member ?people?s delegation?, led by a joint action committee?s chairman, will meet Governor M.M. Jacob, currently touring the Garo hills, tomorrow.

The delegation will urge the governor not to give his assent to the amendment bill and instead refer it to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

?If the governor accepts our plea, it is fine. Otherwise, a public meeting at Tura on April 22 will decide the future course of action,? Sangma said. There will be no further agitation till April 22 owing to the ongoing examinations, Sangma said, adding that the movement would have to abide by the law and be extremely peaceful.