Meghalaya postpones GHADC polls indefinitely after ethnic clashes claim two lives

Shillong: The Meghalaya government on Wednesday indefinitely postponed the April 10 elections for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) after ethnic violence left two people dead and forced authorities to suspend internet services across five districts.

The decision follows a tumultuous 24-hour period in which the Meghalaya High Court invalidated a controversial local notification that had sparked the unrest. The order had attempted to make Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates a mandatory requirement for filing election nominations, a move that would have effectively barred non-tribal candidates from contesting the polls for the first time in more than 70 years.

"Dear friends, looking at the current situation in Garo Hills and understanding the difficulties people are facing at the moment, the Government of Meghalaya has decided to postpone GHADC elections," Chief Minister Conrad Sangma announced in a video address.

Legal Reversal and Fatal Clashes

The High Court of Meghalaya on Tuesday quashed the nomination rule, ruling that the council's Executive Committee had bypassed mandatory legislative protocols. The court noted that any such change to electoral rules requires the explicit approval of the full District Council and the state Governor. "The notification cannot pass legal scrutiny and is set aside and quashed," the court declared.

The legal battle coincided with a breakdown in security. At least two individuals were killed during police firing in Chibinang, West Garo Hills, as clashes erupted between Garo protesters and those supporting non-Garo candidates. Officials also reported widespread arson and the assault of a former legislator, E. Mominin, whose allegedly provocative speeches are now the subject of a police investigation.

Security Measures and Communications Blackout

In response to the volatility, Home Principal Secretary F.R. Kharkongor authorised the suspension of mobile internet services in West, East, South, North, and South West Garo Hills. The blackout is intended to prevent social media from being "used for transmission of information through pictures, videos and text, having the potential to cause serious breakdown of law and order," Kharkongor stated.

Curfews have been established in West and East Garo Hills, while the sale of fuel in loose containers like jerry cans has been banned in South West Garo Hills to prevent further arson.

Educational Disruptions

The unrest has also impacted the academic calendar. The Meghalaya Board of School Education announced the cancellation of Class 12 HSSLC examinations for music and anthropology, originally set for March 11 and 12, specifically within the West Garo Hills district.

"The HSSLC examinations, scheduled for March 11 (Music) and March 12 (Anthropology), stand cancelled for West Garo Hills only. The same shall be rescheduled for some other dates to be notified later," said T.R. Laloo, the board’s Controller of Examinations.

While the GHADC is governed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect tribal interests, the region has a long-standing tradition of non-tribal participation in eligible constituencies, a status quo that remains at the heart of the current crisis.

With inputs from PTI