The SP of Williamnagar, East Garo Hills has called it a case of ‘rivalry’ between car lifters and cattle thieves, according to Guwahati Plus.  According to the report, the police have stated that a vehicle, which had gone missing, was found within a dense forest near Link Road that connects Rogu Alda village in East Garo Hills District. It was found approximately 1.5 km from NH-217. Upon visiting the scene, the police located the missing vehicle burnt amidst the forest. During a search of the area, law enforcement found a freshly dug pit filled with newly turned soil nearby. The officials dug the pit and discovered the burned bodies.

According to the police, one of the victims, Zahidul Islam has been involved in a case of car theft in Dudhnoi and Krishnai and Jamor Ali is reportedly involved in cattle theft cases in Assam.

This is not the first incident of workers being killed in the state. According to the Indian Express, March 27 witnessed two non-tribal workers being killed in the state in Ichamati, which is near the Bangladesh border. Two men from the Khasi Students’ Union were arrested in the matter.

As per the report, two weeks after this incident, one 52 year old Arjjun Ray was also killed after three workers were beaten with rods in the state in April in Mawlai Mawroh. An FIR was reportedly filed but as per the report, no arrests were made at the time.

Meanwhile, the chief minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma has condemned the burning of the youth from Assam and has urged the people of Assam and Meghalaya to not resort to vigilante justice, “I vehemently condemn this heinous act of violence. Such actions have no place in our society and stand as a grave violation of our shared humanity.” He has also assured that the authorities have started the investigation without any delay.

The Meghalaya Human Rights commission has also meanwhile sought for a report on the killings of the three young men. The human rights body has issued a notice to the DGP to send them  a report on the action taken in connection to the incident within a month, according to Times of India.

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Two more migrant workers killed in Kashmir

Fake News Regarding Situation of Migrant Workers in Tamil Nadu Being Made Viral

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In a shocking incident, a Catholic church located in Daram village of the North Garo Hills area of Meghalaya was allegedly vandalised by miscreants last week. According to NE Now, the vandals severed heads of the statues of Mother Mary, Baby Jesus and St Joseph.

Shillong Times reports that this is one of the oldest churches in a remote part of the district. It further reports that the vandals allegedly tried to damage the holy crucifix placed on the upper portion of the Church wall, above the altar, where the holy Eucharistic is celebrated. However, they ended up destroying the leg of the idol.

The incident allegedly took place on August 22. The First Information Report (FIR) was filed at Resubelpara police station on August 26, and a case has been registered. According to the publication, there was a delay in reporting the crime as members of the church were attending a convention in the town of Tura.

Shailendra Bamaniya, IPS, Superintendent of Police North Garo Hills, told News 18, “The incident happened around 24th August, however, they gave us a complaint on 26th August and the case has been registered.”

Investigations are on, but no arrests have been made so far. While it is not known yet if this was a hate crime, Shillong Times reports that a mentally challenged person was allegedly involved in a similar attack in the past, and is one of the suspects in this case as well.

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Over 300 attacks on Christians reported this year

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On October 30, the Government of Meghalaya took over the land on which stands Punjabi Lane, a settlement of Dalit Sikhs. It did so by paying a sum of Rs 2 crore to Syiem of Hima Mylliem, the local chieftain, for the land spread over 12,000 sq meters.

Mylliems are 54 traditional administrative territories under the Khasi Hills Autonomous District. Each ylliem has a Syiem or Chief. Punjabi Lane, also known as Harijan Colony, is located in the Duh area of the state capital, just a stone’s throw from Bara Bazaar in Them lew Mawlong. The inhabitants are at least 300 families of Dalit Sikhs whose ancestors were brought to the state by the British to work as conservancy workers. Even today, many of them work in the Shillong Municipality.

As per official records, 184 employees and their families have been identified as legal settlers. This includes 128 are employees of the Shilling Municipal Board (SMB) and 56 of other departments in the government. These families are eligible for relocation to staff quarters. But what happens to the others? There are many families where descendants of conservancy workers moved out of their traditional area of work and set up small shops or entered the service industry. Why are they suddenly deemed “illegal settlers”?

With the state government is poised to evict Dalit Sikh families from Punjabi Lane, let us take a look at the events that led to this moment.

Dalit Sikhs in Meghalaya

The British originally brought Dalit Sikhs to the region. These include the Mazhabis, the Ramgarhias and Soniars, who engaged in a variety of activities and trades ranging from conservancy work to carpentry to metal work. The Sikhs claim that the land upon which their ancestors built this settlement was gifted to them by the then Syiem of Hima Mylliem. Interestingly, laws in Meghalaya ban non-tribals from owning property in scheduled areas.

This land dispute came to prominence over the last three decades, as socio-political organisations and a section of society grew opposed to prime commercial land being used for residential purposes. Some blamed it for traffic congestion, others pushed for it to be cleared to make way for a parking lot or a shopping complex.

But things came to a head when clashes broke out in May 2018. An altercation between some women from Punjabi Lane and a bus driver got out of hand and rumours circulating on social media sparked riots between local Khasis and Sikh residents in the area. The following month Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma ordered the setting up of a High Level Committee (HLC) to settle the land dispute. This HLC submitted its report in which it recommended that the residents of Punjabi Lane be relocated. But the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) rejected this recommendation. HPC had at that time issued a statement saying, “We will fight tooth and nail” and that they had “rejected the report”.  

Shortly afterwards the HPC moved the Meghalaya High Court in the matter and in February 2019, the HC ruled that it was a “civil” matter and needed to be addressed in a civil court.

Fresh developments in the case

In April, 2021, the Meghalaya High Court had ordered that the state government and the HPC maintain status quo with respect to the Punjabi Lane land dispute. But on October 7 this year, the Meghalaya Cabinet decided to acquire the land and relocate the settlers. The Chief Minister explained, “The Committee also recommended shifting of the permanent municipal employees, who are currently residing in the Colony to the quarters that have been constructed. Further, we will request the other residents residing in the Colony to shift to the designated locations.”   

Subsequently a tripartite agreement was signed between the Department of Urban Affairs (DUA), the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) and the Syiem of Hima Mylliem. As far as relocation goes, 128 employees of the SMB and their families will be relocated to staff quarters built for the purpose. These quarters are located on Bishop Cotton Road, the original location of the SMB offices. As per the recommendations of the HLC, these offices were to be shifted to a temporary location at the old MBDA office.

This leaves families of 56 employees of other departments, though some of them have reportedly moved out of Punjabi Lane to different locations already. Those who haven’t will be accommodated in other designated locations identified by the DUA and the respective departments in the SMB. But this only accounts for 184 families and the neighbourhood is home to at least 300 families. What happens to the remaining 116 families? The Chief Minister’s response was rather cryptic, “Urban Affairs Dept. will explore other locations after which the Govt. will take a call.”

After the land was taken over by the government, Gurjit Singh, secretary of the HPC told Outlook, “We will give sleepless nights to the government!” The HPC plans to petition the governor as well as approach the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Commission for Minorities (NCM) and the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK).

He went on to say, “The tripartite agreement between the Government of Meghalaya, the Acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem and the Shillong Municipal Board is illegal, malafide and a clear violation of the constitutional and fundamental rights of the residents of Punjabi Lane, whose forefathers came here some 200 years ago and who have served Meghalaya honestly and diligently doing manual scavenging and other menial tasks.”

Related:

Meghalaya: Four arrested in Bara Bazar ethnic violence case
Turmoil in the North East: Ethnic divide widens in Meghalaya

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The Meghalaya Police have arrested four men in connection with a series of stabbings of non-tribals in Shillong’s Bara Bazar area. On February 29, Rupchand Dewan, a vegetable vendor originally hailing from Assam’s Barpeta district was stabbed to death in the incident. Another vegetable vendor Jaddu Choudhury from Silchar was also stabbed, but survived.

Many of the vendors who hawk their wares in this market are ethnic Bengalis belonging to both Hindu and Muslim communities. The stabbing spree was a part of a series of retaliatory attacks against non-tribal people in Meghalaya after Lurshai Hynniewta, a resident of Khliehshnong Sohra, was killed in clashes that broke out in Ichamati village located in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya between members of the Khasi Students Union (KSU) and non-tribals. The violence took place at a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) where KSU, that opposes the CAA demanded the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) at Ichamati. 

Following the clashes a curfew had been imposed in the region. A total of 12 people have been arrested in connection with the case so far.

In 1979, when the “anti-foreigner” sentiment swept across Assam, a parallel movement against Bengalis began in Meghalaya. The derogatory word Dkhar was used for ethnic Bengalis, who were mainly Hindu settlers. Violence broke out in October 1979 after two Khasi boys allegedly desecrated an image of a Bengali Hindu deity. Bengali owned businesses and shops were subsequently shut down forcible and over 20,000 Bengalis were forced to flee the state.

Even today, Bengalis are viewed as outsiders and ethnocentric groups fear their influx will spoil the demography of the state. 

Related:

Turmoil in the North East: Ethnic divide widens in Meghalaya

Turmoil in the North East: The demand for Bangalistan

Turmoil in the North East: A Bru Story

Turmoil in the North East: The Naga Pact and its ramifications

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On Friday February 28, clashes broke out In Ichamati village located in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya between members of the Khasi Students Union (KSU) and non-tribals. The violence took place at a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) where KSU, that opposes the CAA demanded the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) at Ichamati. One member of the KSU identified as Lurshai Hynniewta, a resident of Khliehshnong Sohra, was killed in the clashes.

Thereafter, in a series of attacks non-tribal people, both Hindus and Muslims, were either killed or injured grievously: (Sources-India Express, Northeast News)
 

• On Saturday, Rupchand Dewan, a vegetable vendor originally hailing from Assam’s Barpeta district was stabbed to death in Shillong’s Bara Bazar area

• Another vegetable vendor Jaddu Choudhury from Silchar was also stabbed, but survived

• Akash Ali from Barpeta, who works as a courier delivery boy was hit on the head with a hammer in Langsning on Saturday

• Also, on Saturday, a member of Meghalaya Basin Development Authority was attacked in Mawthabah

• A 28-year-old man identified as Aditya Kumar was stabbed at Mawprem and hospitalized with serious injuries

• On Sunday, a 37-year-old man identified as Upas Uddin was killed in Pykran village that falls under the jurisdiction of Shella police station in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district on Sunday morning. His three assailants are absconding and yet to be identified.

• On Sunday morning, District Magistrate Matsiewdor W Nongbri said in an order, “There is a likelihood of a serious breakdown of peace and tranquillity which may lead to loss of life and property… I do promulgate curfew in these areas from 8 am on March 1 until further orders.”

• Eight people have been arrested so far in connection with the attack that killed Hynniewta

Tribal group blames Hindutva groups, issues ultimatum to Bengali Hindus

The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), a banned insurgent group from Meghalaya, has issued an ultimatum to all the Hindu-Bengalis to leave Ichamati and Majai areas at Shella in East Khasi Hills within one month. HNLC general secretary-cum-publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw in a statement issued on Sunday said, “If they fail to do so by not complying to our ultimatum then we shall not be made responsible in case of any eventuality. This time it shall be a mass bloodshed.”

The HNLC blames Hindutva groups and Bengali Hindus for Lurshai Hynniewta’s death. “It was quite visible that the attacks were similar to the ones that happened in the country’s capital by Hindutva forces,” said the statement. “Whatever had happened in the country’s capital Delhi in the recent times was an outcome of the pro-CAA activists attacking the anti-CAA groups,” continued the statement, adding, “These incidents are all stage-managed by the Hindutva forces.”

Meghalaya’s ethnic make-up

The eastern state of Meghalaya is home to many tribes such as Khasi, Garo, Jaintia, Hajong, Biate, Tiwa (Lalung), Rabha, Kuki, Boro, Nepali, Karbi, Koch, Rajbongshi etc. In fact, till 1972 the state was a part of Assam, and the present-day state of Meghalaya was formed by carving out the Khasi, Garo and Jaintia Hills districts on January 21, 1972. According to the official website of the Meghalaya Tourism department, “Meghalaya’s main ethnic communities, each having its own distinctive customs and cultural traditions are the Khasis (of Mon-Khmer ancestry), the Garos (of Tibeto-Burman origin) and the Jaintias said to be from South East Asia.” Also, “The principal languages in Meghalaya are Khasi, Pnar and Garo with English as the official language of the State.”

According to census 2011 data, over three quarters of tribals practice Christianity. These include Garos and Khasis. However, tribes like Hajong, Koch and Rabha people are predominantly Hindu. Muslims account for less than five percent of the state’s population.

Anti-Bengali sentiment

In 1979, when the “anti-foreigner” sentiment swept across Assam, a parallel movement against Bengalis began in Meghalaya. The derogatory word Dkhar was used for ethnic Bengalis, who were mainly Hindu settlers. Ethnocentric Khasi organisations such as KSU and HNLC raised the slogan Beh Dkhar meaning chase the Dkhars away. Violence broke out in October 1979 after two Khasi boys allegedly desecrated an image of a Bengali Hindu deity. Bengali owned businesses and shops were subsequently shut down forcible and over 20,000 Bengalis were forced to flee the state.

Even today, Bengalis are viewed as outsiders and ethnocentric groups fear their influx will spoil the demography of the state. An HNCL statement released recently says that it fears that if “the CAA comes into its implementation then the Bengali Hindu community shall become the biggest threat to our Hynniewtrep land.”

Related:

Turmoil in the North East: The demand for Bangalistan
Turmoil in the North East: A Bru Story
Turmoil in the North East: The Naga Pact and its ramifications

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Meghalaya based rights activist Agnes Kharshiing has been awarded with the 11^th international Hrant Dink award along with Turkish activist against male violence Nebahat Akkoc. Kharshiing, in her course of work, narrowly escaped an assault by the coal mafia merely a year ago.

The award commemorates the memory of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink who was killed in 2007 in Istanbul, Turkey.

“We can do so many things to fill children’s hearts with love, not fear, “ Agnes Kharshiing

2009 onwards, the award is presented to activists, individuals and organisations world over working to fight discrimination, racism and violence, and especially those who take personal risks for achieving those ideals, break the stereotypes and use the language of peace and inspire others by their work.

As per the award committee Ms. Kharshiing, 59, was chosen for “defending the rights of the poor, women, children and disadvantaged groups where she lives as well as for environmental rights”. Ms. Akkoç, based in Turkey’s Anatolia, was awarded for “working to raise awareness about women’s rights and to struggle against male violence”.

On December 31, 2018, CJP had, in its 2018 Listings (Making India Stronger with Courage and Compassion Meet the Human Rights Defenders who inspired millions in 2018) included the spunky Ms Kharshiing in the list.

Kharshiing has come to be known as the woman who chases trucks ferrying “illegally mined coal”. President of the Civil Society for Women’s Organisation, she and her associate, Amita Sangam were on November 8, 2018, assaulted by a mob during one of their many “surveillance” trips to Meghalaya’s East Jaintia hills, a district rich in coal and limestone. As many as 40 men allegedly involved in the banned rat-hole coal mining and illegal coal trade attacked their vehicle and severely injured Kharshiing. They had blunt weapons in their hands. When her companion Amita asked to spare her, she was attacked too. Kharshiing fell unconscious after the attack. Amita called the police and asked them to take Kharshiing to the hospital. Kharshiing was in coma for a week and took almost three months to recover. She has been under medication and police protection since. In the same incident, Amita, who also got grievously hurt, especially on her head and fingers. She is a mother of seven children and has had “no support from any quarters” and because of this, has not been able to pursue the case. She expected better compensation from the government apart from just waiving off medical bills. The matter is still pending with the Assembly committee on empowerment of women.

One month after the attack on her, at least 14 miners were found trapped in an illegal “rat-hole” mine operating in the same district. Meghalaya has an estimated coal reserve of close to 600 million tones, concentrated in the Jaintia and Garo hills. The mines are known for their dangerous working conditions. The National Green Tribual (NGT), in April 2014, following a petition by the Assam-based All Dimasa Students’ Union and the Dima Hasao District, which alleged that mining in Jaiñtia hills was polluting the Kopili river, had ordered the suspension of all rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya; however it allowed the transport of already- mined coal until January 31, 2019. The permissibility of transportation implied that rat-hole mining continued in the region, often by minor workers who are hired for their small size and ability to fit in narrow tunnels even as the suspension meant an end for the multi-crore business that had developed links across several states in the country and Bangladesh, and was allegedly financed by high-profile politicians and businessmen. This venture was too lucrative and anybody who would have opposed it would have invited trouble.

Hence, whoever dared highlight the continuing extraction has been silenced. On March 19, RTI activist and former president of the Jaiñtia Youth Federation, Poipynhun Majaw was attacked and found murdered at Khliehriat, the district headquarters of East Jaintia Hills.

About the attack on Kharshiing, even the office Chief Minister recognised the important role played by civil society in a democratic system. “Violence in any form will not be tolerated and the government will take all necessary steps to ensure that those behind the attack are brought to justice,” the press statement reportedly said.

A Federation of 13 plus Workers Unions of Meghalaya had condemned the attack on both the social activists in the state.

“Agnes Kharshiing is a person who fights for the poor and downtrodden people in the region. She has always fought against the illegal activities in the region in order to protect the environment and livelihood of workers like us. Hence, we urge the Meghalaya Government to ensure that the culprits get immediately booked,” said the members of Workers Unions.

Khashiing, has also been a fierce defender of women’s and communities’ rights and led several sit-ins and protests against the government for eviction of local communities from the land. She spoke against corporal punishment and bullying in schools and had condemned the appointment of an MLA Julius Dorphong accused for the rape of a minor girl.

She has also been extensively involved in exposing graft and lack of transparency in child nutrition programs. She advocated for programs supporting local food. She has been also crucial in rescue missions to Radhamadhab Road- a red light area in Silchar, Assam.

While accepting the award, she said, “People should raise their voices, help the vulnerable and support them when their human rights are violated”. She added, “It is only this way that humanity can overcome hate. There are so many things that we can do together to bring peace to the world and fill the hearts of children with love, not fear.”

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Confirming the incident, police sources informed that Kharshiing was attacked on the head and is in a very serious condition. She was shifted to Ialong Civil Hospital but later rushed to NEIGRIHMS hospital in Shillong.

The incident happened a day after Kharshiing lodged a complaint on coal-laden trucks parked at Mawiong rim in Shillong, which were later seized by the police. Kharshiing has been very vocal against coal mining activities in the state since the NGT ban. In the past, she had exposed rampant mining and transportation of coal despite the ban across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
 
In March this year, in another shocking incident, Poipynhun Majaw, President of JYF (Jaintia Youth Federation) has been killed and his body has been found in Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills District. He succumbed to his head injuries after being hit by a hard object, possibly an iron rod.The CSWO President and RTI activist Agnes Kharshiing has strongly condemned this incident and said, “We strongly condemn his killing and demand Immediate arrests of those responsible.”

Police informed that the CSWO president had gone to Tuber to follow up on the Nov 7 incident at Mawiong rim. She along with another member, A Sangma were attacked and dragged and left in a jungle. It was informed that Sangma managed to crawl her way to the road and sought for help.

Kharshiing was later found in the near-by jungle in an unconscious state. She was said to have suffered severe head injuries. The incident happened around 2.30 pm today.

Interestingly, the driver who drove the duo to Jaintia Hills was left unharmed and allowed to flee. Police are yet to record his statement.

When asked whether the two women were assaulted before being left in the jungle, police said they are yet to receive the medical reports but confirmed that both of them were hit on the head with a hard object.
 
Sources informed that moments before Kharshiing was to leave for Tuber, a man visited her at her residence in Laitumkhrah, Shillong and offered her money, asking her to take back the case. However, Kharshiing refused the offer and decided to go to Tuber.

It may be mentioned that this is the second instance where a social activist was attacked in East Jaintia Hills. In the month of March, the president of Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF) Poipynhun Majaw was found murdered at Khliehriat. Majaw was one of the active NGO leaders in Jaintia Hills and had on several occasions demanded closure of cement plants for violating the norms in Jaintia hills.
 

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The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Union Government as well as the state governments of Assam and Meghalaya in furtherance of a habeas corpus petition filed by Kaushik Phukan, son of missing United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) [ULFA(I)] negotiator Rebati Phukan. According to the petitioners, Rebati Phukan had gone missing when he failed to return from his morning walk in Guwahati on April 22. After protests broke out in different parts of the state, the state government initiated a CID investigation. However, later reports and audio messages from Paresh Baruah claimed that Phukan had been abducted by state agencies and was being kept in Meghalaya.

When the vacation bench asked the petitioners why they did not approach the High Court of Gauhati, they said that the reason is the reports and statements issued by Paresh Baruah pointing towards the possible involvement of intelligence agencies. This, they alleged, would render any investigation carried out by the CID irrelevant.

Rebati Phukan was a childhood friend of ULFA(I) Chief Paresh Baruah. Though he had never had any involvement with the Liberation Front, he had been approached by Indian intelligence agencies to convince the rebel leader to enter talks with the government. Phukan had reportedly been coordinating with R. N. Ravi, the Indo-Naga interlocutor, over bringing Baruah for talks.

Baruah has denied any involvement in Phukan’s disappearance and the family appears to trust Baruah’s statements. On the other hand, the role of the intelligence agencies in his disappearance appears strange considering that if Baruah were to enter negotiations with the government, ULFA’s armed movement would be finished. On the other hand, Baruah’s demand that sovereignty should be one of the options to be discussed is not palatable to the Indian State. Thus, keeping him away could enable the government to resolve the matter with the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led faction, while putting Baruah on the back foot in terms of manpower and movement.

Image Coutesy: Live Law In

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This is the second state after Kerala to do so. Even Karnataka has opposed the Centre's move.

Cutting across political lines, the members of the Assembly supported the resolution tabled by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
 
“This House takes a strong note of the shortcomings and infirmities in these Rules (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Regulation of Livestock Markets Rules, 2017), as notified and resolves that the same may be withdrawn by Government of India with an immediate effect, so as to maintain the federal and secular character of our Constitution or be faced with a situation where the law prohibits some activity , while the everyday-life practices it on a large-scale due to harsh economic realities, a situation surely to be avoided at all costs,“ the resolution read.
 
The notification, it said, “travels way beyond the scope and object as set out in the Preamble of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960“, thus infringing the rights of states to regulate the items enlisted in State List (List-II of VII Schedule to Constitution of India).
 
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had issued the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 on May 23.
 
Sangma alleged that the notification was “designed to affect“ the people of the north-east in general and Meghalaya in particular.

This move comes as a huge challenge to the hegemonic policies of the Modi regime.
 

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“I cannot compromise on the sentiments of the Garos,” Bachu said. “As a Garo, it is my responsibility to protect the interests of my community. Beef eating is part of our culture and tradition. The imposition of BJP’s non-secular ideology on us is not acceptable,” he said after resigning from the party. He has submitted his resignation to state party president Shibun Lyngdoh.

Bachu had proposed a bitchi (rice beer) and beef party in the Garo Hills on his Facebook page recently to mark the Narendra Modi government’s three years in office and had attracted party leadership’s criticism. BJP national spokesperson Nalin Kohli had warned of stringent action against Bachu. Former BJP leader Bernard, who had resigned from the party, is organising a beef party at the Eden Bari locality of Tura on June 10 and Bachu is also expected to participate in the event.

“I will attend the beef party in Tura to register our voice against such moves of the BJP,” he said.
 

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