Mob surrounds Meghalaya Chief Minister’s office, 5 injured in attack

Mangalore Today News Network / NDTV

Tura, July 24, 2023: A mob attack at the office of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma left five security personnel injured. Mr Sangma is unharmed. He is, however, still inside his office in Tura as hundreds have surrounded the compound. Garo Hills-based civil society groups have been on a hunger strike demanding for a winter capital in Tura.

 

Trouble started this evening when hundreds of people gathered outside the Chief Minister’s office and started throwing stones. Five security personnel were injured in the attack. They were brought inside Mr Sangma’s office.

Visuals show the injured security personnel lying on the floor, while Mr Sangma tends to them. While Mr Sangma is safe, he is unable to get out of the office as the protesters have blocked the access road.

The situation is under control but tense, the Chief Minister’s Office said.

Mr Sangma was talking to the protesters when some people in the crowd started throwing stones.

"Discussions were going on, we had already agreed to meet in Shillong to further discuss the matter with all stakeholders, and the NGOs seemed more or less satisfied. A majority of the society and NGOs were not part of this fasting protest, only two-three of them were there. 90 per cent of the organisations weren’t part of this," Mr Sangma said in a video statement.

"Even then, I believe that dialogue is important. Hence, I made a point to meet them. After the discussion was almost over, we heard sloganeering from outside. I asked them not to create any scene out here. Their leaders (of the NGOs in talks) went outside to speak to the people. They came back and said they did not know who these people were, never seen them before during the fasting protest," Mr Sangma said, adding the leaders themselves have taken shelter inside as they were unable to leave.

The civil society groups that have been demanding a winter capital in Tura include ACHIK and GHSMC.

Mr Sangma has asked the protesters to meet for a discussion on the winter capital demand and job reservation. Cabinet ministers and other stakeholders will attend. He asked the organisations to end their protest before they can begin talks in the state capital Shillong next month.