Shillong, Nov. 6: A cautious Meghalaya government today asked the administration in both districts of the Garo hills not to ?go overboard? with security during the daylong protests planned by a student organisation tomorrow against restructuring of school education.

Similar demonstrations across East and West Garo Hills districts in September had led to nine deaths in police firing on protesters at two places.

The Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government sounded the alert immediately after the Garo Students? Union (GSU) announced an 11-hour ?non-cooperation movement? across the Garo hills from 5 am. The decision was ostensibly taken following a public rally at the Chandmari ground in Tura on Friday.

The GSU has been campaigning against the government?s move to amend the Meghalaya Board of School Education Act, 1973. The Garo community sees this as an attempt to bifurcate the board ? it operates from Tura in West Garo Hills district ? to placate organisations in the Khasi hills. The Khasi Students? Union has been demanding a regional office of the board in Shillong.

Backed by the Joint Action Committee of the Garo hills, the GSU has been demanding the resignation of all 24 MLAs from the twin districts as a mark of solidarity. It has already held a series of rallies and conducted a poster campaign to mount pressure on the legislators to resign.

A source said additional security and paramilitary forces had been kept on standby to prevent any untoward incident during the protests tomorrow.

?The forces will be ready to meet any eventuality, should it occur. But the September 30 incidents of violence in Tura and Williamnagar are still fresh in the minds of the people and the government is aware that any hasty move could ignite similar passions.?

The cautious approach of the government was reflected in its decision to replace West Garo Hills deputy commissioner L.R. Sangma, blamed for the September 30 incident in Tura, with P. Sampat Kumar, an IAS officer of the 1997 batch. A notification to this effect was issued last night.

Home minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh, however, declined to cite any reason for the change.

On whether he thought the district administration was responsible for the fracas just over a month ago, he said: ?I do not know what happened that time. But, yes, we are being more careful this time.?

Former deputy chief minister Mukul Sangma was holding the home and education portfolios when the police firing occurred.