Tura/Shillong, Nov. 10: Over 15,000 people today marched against Meghalaya High Court's suggestion to the Centre to consider the imposition of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, to neutralise insurgent activities in Garo hills.
The public rally was held at Resubelpara in the North Garo Hills.
During the rally, the effigies of Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma and Tura Lok Sabha MP Purno Agitok Sangma were burnt.
The rally, which started at Dekachang playground, moved through the streets of Resubelpara and was spearheaded by several citizens' forums, including the Garo Students' Union (GSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Federation of A'chik Freedom (FAF) and Mothers' Union, amongst others.
"At this juncture, we expected Mukul and Purno to be vocal and raise their concern. But they are silent. Are they waiting for our children to be killed?" asked Willness Marak, general secretary of GSU, northern zone.
The rally observed that if the army act were invoked, it would cause hardship to the people and not the militants. "Fake killings, harassment of women, even rapes will become common," said Jagir Momin, president of FAF, northern zone.
Activist Alex Sangma said though the situation is worsening in Garo hills, it was not so bad as to impose the army act. "We feel that the Centre and the Meghalaya government must sit together and decide the way ahead. We don't even mind the army coming but it should not come with special powers like AFSPA."
The rally also condemned the actions of the militants and blamed them for unleashing terror in Garo hills. "It is really frustrating that even with the threat of AFSPA, some criminals are continuing with their activities," said a participant.
The activists urged the government to resolve the problem of militancy and bring peace back to Garo hills.
"We are extremely frustrated at the lack of the voice of our leaders at a time when we need them. It is the frustration that we want to show by burning the effigies of Purno and Mukul," said Waldi A. Sangma, an activist.
A series of rallies were held across Garo hills by the people in an effort to vent their fear against the imposition of the army act in Garo hills.
Opposing any move to invoke the army act, Opposition MLA Saleng A. Sangma today demanded an inquiry either by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or the CBI into an alleged politician-militant nexus.
Sangma, who submitted a letter to Union home minister Rajnath Singh in this regard, also met Meghalaya home minister Roshan Warjri here today, expressing his opposition to the use of the act in the Garo hills.
"I respect the court's view on this issue (AFSPA) because the state government has failed in its duty. But invoking AFSPA is not the solution to the ongoing problem. Instead, the Centre should order an independent probe either by the NIA or CBI to establish the nexus between politicians and militants and stem the rot started by militants and other criminal elements," Sangma told reporters after his meeting with the home minister.
Sangma, a former state minister, had escaped an attack by militants Garo hills during the 2013 Assembly election. He also recalled that chief minister Mukul Sangma had himself admitted earlier that the politician-militant nexus in the state couldn't be ruled out.
Warjri said the state government would apprise the Centre on the need to provide additional forces to the state.
