Ampati, February 2: In view of the ongoing unrest affecting the betelnut trade in the Garo Hills region, the South West Garo Hills district administration convened a peace meeting at Ampati on Monday, urging all sections of society to maintain calm and uphold communal harmony.
The meeting was attended by members of the Nokma Council, religious leaders, civil society organisations, market committee representatives, senior citizens, and betelnut farmers and traders. Participants expressed concern over the hardships faced by farmers and traders due to the prevailing tension, while emphasising the importance of peace, mutual respect and sensitivity to local sentiments.
Speakers at the meeting strongly condemned the recent incident at Goalgaon village that triggered the unrest and called for the immediate restoration of normalcy. It was reiterated that communities in the region have a long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence and cooperation.
Deputy Commissioner Anendya Raajsshre appealed to the public to work together with the administration to preserve communal harmony. He cautioned against taking the law into one’s own hands and assured that the district administration is actively working towards a long-term resolution in coordination with the West Garo Hills and South Salmara district administrations.
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Superintendent of Police Vikash Varma urged citizens to remain calm, avoid spreading or believing unverified information on social media, and promptly report any untoward incidents to the police. He stressed that maintaining peace and law and order requires collective responsibility and cooperation from all stakeholders.
The district administration reiterated its commitment to ensuring stability in the region while safeguarding the livelihoods of betelnut farmers and traders.
