Amid escalating tension in parts of Garo Hills following violence linked to the nomination process for the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday described the reports of violence, including the attack on the office of the National People’s Party in Tura, as “very, very unfortunate” and appealed to citizens to maintain calm as the government decided to postpone the council elections scheduled for April 10, 2026.
“Well, in fact, the incidents that has happened not only today since yesterday or day before yesterday is very, very unfortunate including the party (NPP) office in Tura that were being attacked. So, again I would like to express discontentment with the incidents that happened, I would again request all the citizens of the Garo Hills in particular to kindly calm down. Again any issues you have in ur mind we are open for discussion,” Tynsong said.
Responding to a question on whether public sentiment in Garo Hills was against the government, he said the agitation was centred around the demand raised by several organisations regarding the participation of non-tribals in the electoral process.
“I cannot say they are against the government because they have an agenda and their agenda we don’t want our friends non tribal to file nomination. Not that they don’t want NPP or Congress or other political parties, now the issue is what they said from all the NGOs that Non Tribals should not participate in the elections process as candidate,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the government reviewed the situation during a video conferencing meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and found the law and order situation in the region to be extremely grim.
“In the video conferencing meeting that we had with the Chief Minister. As you all aware the conditioned And the situation that we have in Garo Hills is very, very grim in spite of the fact that we are trying our best from the government side, to make sure that the law in order is completely peaceful and under control. However, we are getting reports and the inputs from angles, Ultimately, we decided to was postpone the general election to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council which is supposed to be held On the 10th of April 2026,” he said.
He added that the State government would convene a Cabinet meeting to discuss the future course of action.
“So this is the decision we are taking and tomorrow, again, we have decided to have a cabinet meeting in the evening to further discuss about the future course of action from the government side. So this is the information, which I would like to share with all of you,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the situation on the ground remained sensitive and urged residents of the region to maintain peace while the government engages with stakeholders.
“Well, in fact, the situation till this moment while speaking to all of you still, not that conducive but I would like to only tell the residents of Garo Hills, through all of you, I would request all of them to be cool and calm, Since the Government has taken decision to postpone the election, So during the postponement, I would like to call all the stakeholders Come forward let us share your concerns. We would like to know their views, their concerns and their issues before them and we are ready for further deliberation and discussion with all of with all of them,” he said.
“From the government side I would, once again request all the concerned NGOs as well as the residents of Garo Hills both Tribal and non-tribal to kindly comedown and let us again make sure that law and order is again back to normalcy,” Tynsong added.
