Meghalaya: 10 killed as forces open fire on students

As news of the firing filtered to Shillong, Garo ministers in the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition government went into a huddle. There is a strong possibility that they might put in their papers. Chief Minister D D Lapang has convened an emergency meeting to discuss the police action.

The district administration has imposed curfew in the two districts apprehending backlash. Most of those who died were members of the GSU and its president Andreas Sangma was among the injured. The incidents took place at around 11 a.m.

Police fired at the crowd which had gathered in the Chandmari ground in Tura and the Rongrengre playground in East Garo Hills. Officials say security personnel opened fire when the crowd started throwing stones at them. After the firing, a mob tried to attack the Tura residence of Deputy CM Mukul Sangma.

The GSU has been opposing the shifting of the MBoSE office for examinations of Class XI and XII from Tura to Shillong. It has been spearheading a non-cooperation movement in the three districts of the Garo Hills region from September 14 and launched an ‘economic blockade’ on September 28.