Williamnagar, the district headquarter town of Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district, today observed a shutdown as part of a series of agitation called by the Garo Students Union (GSU) demanding action against the personnel involved in an alleged fake encounter of January 26.
Today’s shutdown evoked complete response, with all business establishments, shops and financial institutions remaining closed.
No untoward incident was reported, official sources said.
The GSU will resort to a sit-in protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office tomorrow, followed by an office picketing from February 28 to March 2 and then an indefinite night blockade from March 3.
Alleging that the magisterial inquiry into the fake encounter was proceeding at a slow pace, the student body is demanding immediate action against the “erring police personnel”.
Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi has called the representatives of the student body for a meeting this evening.
On January 26, one suspected militant was shot dead, four others arrested and a huge cache of arms and explosives recovered during the encounter.
A mob fury later forced the police to release the arrested ‘militants’ a day later, with locals claiming that they were innocent villagers.
After the protests, the State government had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the encounter and a high level inquiry to ascertain the facts that led to the subsequent protests.
