Meghalaya Leader of Opposition, Mukul Sangma. File | Photo credit: S. Subramanium
Meghalaya Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma on Saturday (March 22, 2025) urged the state government to set up an independent commission of inquiry into the Garo Hills violence, saying accountability and due process were essential to restore public confidence.
In a petition to Governor CH Vijayashankar, Mr Sangma described the “serious law and order situation” in the Garo Hills region, which he said stemmed from a series of events surrounding the Garo Hills Autonomous District Tribal Council (GHADC) elections.
He said the tension had escalated due to demands by certain civil society organizations representing the Garo community to bar non-tribals from participating in the GHADC polls, the issuance of a notice by the then executive member of the council and a meeting held in Phulbari area by a former MLA that allegedly had wider implications.
“This development has led to widespread unrest and conflict between various groups in the region,” TMC MLA Mr. Sangma said in the petition.
The unrest subsequently turned violent, resulting in the death of two persons in clashes between rival groups on March 10, while the situation across districts in the Garo Hills became tense and volatile, he added.
The former chief minister also alleged that the situation worsened due to lack of timely and effective government intervention at the initial stage.
He further argued that the role of “vested interests, including possible external forces hostile to the nation”, in fueling communal tensions and disrupting law and order in the region cannot be ruled out.
Read | Meghalaya Tribal Council elections postponed as violence continues
However, Mr. Sangma noted that the situation has started to normalize due to the intervention of church leaders and elders in West Garo Hills, who played a key role in pacifying the aggrieved groups.
He raised concerns about the police crackdown, saying there was a growing perception that arrests were being made in a “random and indiscriminate manner” without proper verification.
“Such acts can lead to a miscarriage of justice, exacerbate public unrest and risk implicating innocent persons while the real culprits remain unknown,” he said.
Mr. Sangma emphasized that arrests made only to demonstrate action or to ease immediate pressure could further worsen the situation rather than restore public confidence.
He urged the authorities to ensure that arrests are preceded by proper investigations and that evidence-based policing is followed while preserving citizens’ rights.
The opposition leader called for a commission of inquiry, saying it should investigate the circumstances leading to the issuance of the notification, investigate the causes of the clashes, identify those responsible for the violence and hold accountable all wrongdoing, including the failure of officials to intervene in time.
He also emphasized the need for continued dialogue and involvement of all stakeholders to resolve the issue in the greater interest of the people and ensure lasting peace in the state.
Published – 22 March 2026 11:26 IST
