Shillong: The curfew was relaxed at Tura in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district for two hours from 12pm to 2pm on Thursday with normalcy gradually returning to the cosmopolitan town after two days of unrest.From Friday, curfew in the town will be relaxed from 2pm to 4pm until further orders, West Garo Hills district magistrate Vibhor Aggarwal said.No fresh violence has been reported at Tura. The relaxation enabled the residents to buy essentials and clean up the surroundings in the scenic but now ravaged town.Internet on mobile telephones, however, remained suspended.Meanwhile, the curfew was relaxed from 8am to 1pm on Thursday in the East Garo Hills district to allow people to procure essential items.The curfew was imposed following the unrest during protests opposing the participation of non-tribals in the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), prompting the govt to postpone the polls, which were slated for April 10.CM Conrad Sangma, who represents the South Tura assembly constituency, visited Tura town with his physician wife and Gambegre MLA Mehtab Chandee A Sangma on Thursday. He interacted with residents, community leaders and officials in the town.He directed the West Garo Hills district administration to provide food assistance to communities affected by the disturbances. After inspecting areas where shops and structures were damaged, the CM assured residents of necessary govt support to those affected.“Visited several locations in Tura today to assess the damage caused to public and private properties across the town. It is truly heartbreaking to witness the extent of the destruction. Distressed to see the loss suffered by individuals and commercial establishments,” the CM said.Most of the damage was reported from the Araimile locality, where a building was set on fire and several shops looted. In Hawakhana, the office of the ruling National People’s Party was ransacked and a place of worship in the main market area was vandalised and set ablaze.On Wednesday night, violent groups headed towards the CM’s residence with the intention of arson and attack on his family. The move was pre-empted by the security forces with the Army, CRPF and police maintaining constant vigil.“At times like these our humanity must rise above the issues. I humbly appeal to all my people to uphold the spirit of peace, respect and brotherhood that defines us. Let us protect what we have built together and refrain from acts of vandalism and aggression. Our strength as a community lies in our unity and compassion for one another,” the CM appealed through the social media.
