GUWAHATI: Nine persons were killed and at least 30 others injured when the police opened fire to disperse protest rallies taken out under the aegis of the Garo Students Union (GSU) in West Garo Hills and East Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya on Friday morning.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told The Hindu over telephone from Shillong that the situation was tense but under control. Five persons died at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills district and four at Tura in West Garo Hills district. The condition of a woman CRPF jawan injured at Williamnagar is stated to be critical.

The district administration of West Garo Hills and East Garo Hills clamped an indefinite curfew at Tura and Williamnagar. A magisterial probe was ordered into the police firing.

The GSU had taken out the rallies defying prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code as part of its ongoing agitation against a State-level Committee's recommendations on restructuring of the Meghalaya Board of Secondary Education (MBOSE), headquartered at Tura.

Dr. Sangma said the police resorted to firing as there was a "coordinated attack on policemen and magistrates on duty" by violent mobs in both places. Two magistrates, an Additional Superintendent of Police and 38 other police personnel were injured at Tura. A senior magistrate and 16 police personnel were hurt at Williamnagar.

"We are awaiting detailed reports from the district administration. We will have to ascertain if the attacks on the police personnel were pre-determined to disturb the law and order situation," Dr. Sangma said.

An eyewitness said on the phone from Tura that a huge crowd, a majority of it women, gathered on the Chandmari playground of the hill town in response to the GSU call. The crowd lost patience when policemen attempted to arrest a GSU leader, who was addressing it.

"Total confusion"

"After some time there was total confusion. We could see the policemen bursting teargas shells and blank fire, followed by firing when some persons started pelting stones at them. People ran helter-skelter ... , " the witness said.

The Government announced an ex gratia of Rs. 1 lakh to the next of kin of each of the dead.

The D. D. Lapang Government formed the 11-member committee under pressure from 21 NGO groups, including the Khasi Students Union (KSU). The State witnessed a vigorous movement in both Khasi hills and Garo hills on the issue of restructuring of the MBOSE.

The NGOs of Garo Hills, including the influential GSU, resorted to an agitation to resist any move to bifurcate the board but suspended the protest after the Government formed the committee. They resumed their agitation, not satisfied with its recommendations and demanded changes in the report.

The committee suggested the appointment of a full-time executive chairman for the board, abolition of the post of secretary and merging it with that of chairman, and appointment of directors for the various wings of the board. It recommended that Tura remain the headquarters.

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