Shillong, Feb 20: A candle light vigil was held on Tuesday to pay tribute to four people NCP candidate from Williamnagar constituency, Jonathone N. Sangma who lost their lives in a blast in East Garo Hills district.
On Sunday, the NCP candidate (Jonathone) and three others were killed while three others injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast at Sawilgre village in East Garo Hills district.
The place of occurrence is about 14 km from Samanda block, and police blamed the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) for the incident.
The candle light vigil was organised by concern citizens at Khyndai Lad here.
Thousands of people came to light the candle and paid tribute for the those who lost their lives, while strongly condemning the incident.
Saljrang Momin, who joined hands in organising the candle light vigil, demanded an independent probe into the incident.
Momin said that Meghalaya required peace not violence while demanding action against those responsible in carrying out such acts of violence.
State NCP general secretary, Vijay Raj who also participated in the candle light vigil said that such act should be condemned by all right thinking people.
“It was an unfortunate incident and this should be the first and the last,” Raj said.
The NCP Meghalaya will also hold the candle light vigil at the same venue on Wednesday evening.
Raj said that the NCP at the national level has written a letter to the Election Commission of India demanding a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Expressing concern over the alleged politicians-militants nexus, the NCP leader said, “Everyone knows there is a nexus between politicians and militants. Somebody will gain from the murder of Jonathone, that is why he was killed.”
Raj reiterated the demand for a thorough probe to establish facts of people involving in such nexus.
Meanwhile Meghalaya additional chief secretary (home police), M.S. Rao told The Telegraph that a magisterial probe into the incident has been instituted by the East Garo Hills deputy commissioner.
Rao said that security has been enhanced and deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of all the districts have been advised to review and properly assess the security requirements of all contesting candidates.
“Intelligence machinery has also been geared up so that such incidents can be prevented,” he said.
Notwithstanding the incident, the state government expressed confident that with additional measures being put in place, risk of such interference with the election process will be minimized so as to ensure free and fair elections.
The Meghalaya government has urged the general public to cooperate with the state and district authorities and promptly inform them about any suspicious objects or movements that may come to their notice. The state government also requested cooperation of all in maintaining peace and order in the state.
Another 10 additional companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) has been sought from the Centre to be deployed in Garo Hills especially in militant-infested areas to ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of polls to the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly on February 27.
Five companies of the state’s Special Force- 10 specially trained in tackling militancy will be deployed for election related security duties in order to instill confidence among the people and strengthen the security arrangements in the area.
Another 80 companies of CAPF sanctioned for Meghalaya would also arrive from Tripura this week.
Meanwhile Meghalaya additional chief secretary (home police), M.S. Rao told The Telegraph that a magisterial probe into the incident has been instituted by the East Garo Hills deputy commissioner.
