Shillong: Normalcy is gradually returning to the restive Garo Hills, with incidents of violence declining and the govt maintaining close surveillance to prevent any fresh breakdown of law and order, chief minister Conrad K Sangma said on Thursday.After meeting governor CH Vijayashankar, Conrad told reporters that only “some sporadic incidents” had been reported from West Garo Hills.“Normalcy returned — to a large extent it has returned and…people are now getting on with their daytoday lives. To a large extent, after assessing the situation, the internet ban has been lifted. But we are carefully monitoring the situation…we are keeping a close watch to ensure normalcy…,” he said.Conrad, accompanied by deputy CM in-charge of home Prestone Tynsong, said he briefed the governor on the situation in the Garo Hills region following violent protests over the participation of non-tribals in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council elections. The govt has postponed the GHADC polls in view of the unrest.“For most of the last two weeks, I was in Garo Hills…all this while, we were able to communicate with the governor on the phone and therefore, I felt it appropriate that I must come and brief him about the current prevailing situation, especially in Garo Hills and also the different incidents that led to the recent lawandorder situation,” he said.“So complete briefing on the entire matter was given to the Governor,” he said, adding that the governor was “much more aware about what happened”.On arrests made in connection with the violence in West Garo Hills, the chief minister said the matter was being handled entirely by the police. “We have been very clear on this that it is purely police department’s responsibility and based on whatever evidence and whatever rules that are there, police will take action…I am not aware of how many arrests have been made, I am not aware of who all have been arrested as it is purely a police matter and police is taking steps as per law and as per evidence,” he added.
