Amid heightened tension following violent clashes that erupted after the filing of nominations began for the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, police authorities said the two victims did not die due to police firing and that the post-mortem examination of one of the deceased has not indicated death from a gunshot injury, even as the circumstances surrounding the fatalities remain uncertain. Police sources also indicated that four or five persons have been admitted to hospitals in Goalpara with bullet injuries, while both sides involved in the confrontation were reportedly armed with weapons including muzzle-loading guns and pellet firearms not used by police.
According to police sources, the violence unfolded under chaotic circumstances late on March 9 when incidents of violence were reported involving groups from both tribal and non-tribal communities. The groups were reportedly armed with licensed weapons, dao and other implements, and there was an exchange of fire between them during the confrontation.
Sources maintained that police had fired in the air on two occasions only to disperse the crowd and prevent the situation from escalating further.
Police sources said, “We are not too sure now because all happened during the night, both tribal and non tribals were armed both side had their licence weapons and dao and all that. Yes we fired in the air on two instances but even the post mortem on one of the victims doesn’t show that he died from gunshot injury. We fired in the air to disburse the crowd but there was also exchange of fire between them in that confusion in that situation in the middle of the night, the first incident happened around 9:30 pm. In which the people died those two victims that was early in the morning around 1-2 am between that time. We are not too sure. We also got an information from Goalpara that quiet a few people have been admitted with gunshot injuries that one get from the muzzle loading gun.”
Responding to questions on whether police bullets may have struck civilians during the operation, the sources reiterated that the firing by police was directed only into the air and not at the crowd, adding that the nature of injuries reported in neighbouring Assam does not correspond to the ammunition used by police personnel.
Police sources said, “….both side had Muzzle loading gun, Air guns, some had air pistols. These are pellets and not are police guns. That night both Garos and the non tribals had weapons.”
Authorities said the volatile situation prompted a large-scale security deployment involving multiple central and state forces, with reinforcements rushed to sensitive areas to prevent retaliatory violence and reassure residents.
Police sources said, “Very significant, we got five companies of CRPF, Assam police also pitched in about 3 companies, then we have four columns of the army, we have sent four companies of re-enforcement from Meghalaya Police from Eastern Range and others. We have pumped in forces.”
Security forces also conducted coordinated flag marches in sensitive localities following intelligence inputs that certain groups might attempt acts of arson during the night. The exercise continued the following morning with the Army carrying out another flag march as part of efforts to maintain order and restore public confidence.
Police sources said, “Flag March held last night to ensure that there were inputs that group may try to carry out arsons, and then this morning also we had another flag March by army.”
Army Conducts Flag March in Garo Hills After Clashes Involving Pellet Guns and Muzzle Loaders
