Tura, January 10: In the wake of the unfortunate incident that occurred near Goalgoan/Rajabala village in West Garo Hills on Friday afternoon, the District Administration, West Garo Hills, convened a high-level emergency peace meeting at the Conference Hall of the Tura Circuit House on Saturday (today) to review the prevailing situation and ensure maintenance of peace and public order.
As per reports, a clash between two groups of people took place near Rajabala at around 3:00 PM on January 9, resulting in serious injuries to two individuals. The injured were immediately shifted to Tura Civil Hospital, where one of them later succumbed to injuries despite medical intervention, while the other continues to receive treatment. Police sources confirmed that the incident followed an altercation along the AMPT roadside. An investigation has since been launched to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the clash.
The peace meeting was chaired by the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Vibhor Aggarwal, IAS, and attended by the Superintendent of Police, West Garo Hills, Abraham T. Sangma, IPS, senior district officials, and prominent religious and community leaders. Representatives from various organisations, including the Central Puja Committee, Tura Mosque, Senior Citizens Forum, Tura Mother’s Union, along with members of several social and youth organisations from across the Tura region, participated in the deliberations.
During the meeting, all participants unanimously appealed for calm, unity, and cooperation to maintain law and order in the district. Emphasis was laid on the importance of peace, communal harmony, and collective responsibility in the aftermath of the incident. Religious and community leaders assured the district administration of their full cooperation in spreading the message of peace and discouraging rumours and misinformation.
The Deputy Commissioner reiterated that the district administration is committed to ensuring justice for the deceased while taking all necessary measures to maintain peace and stability in the district. He further informed that similar peace committee meetings are being held at Rajabala and Phulbari to strengthen coordination and confidence at the grassroots level.
It was also informed that the Deputy Commissioner had earlier held a late-night meeting with representatives of the concerned NGO whose member died in the incident, during which the NGO assured the administration of full cooperation and restraint.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police, West Garo Hills, Abraham T. Sangma, IPS, informed that a case has been registered in connection with the incident and that police are making all-out efforts to apprehend those involved. He stated that multiple raids have already been conducted and that the stone quarry owner linked to the case is currently absconding.
The Superintendent of Police also issued a stern warning against the spread of false rumours and misleading information on social media, stating that strict action will be taken against those found indulging in such activities, as they have the potential to disturb public order. He urged the public to refrain from relying on unverified information and to confirm facts through official police sources or the police control room.
Adequate police forces have been deployed across the district, with additional reinforcements from the state police. Security has been tightened in sensitive areas, and police escorts are being provided wherever required. Close coordination with the Assam Police is also being maintained, given the proximity of the incident site to the inter-state border.
Addressing reports of commodity price hikes, the Deputy Commissioner stated that a team from the Supply Department has been tasked with conducting market inspections in coordination with the Bazaar Committee to prevent any artificial price rise.
