TURA, Oct 1: Seventeen years ago, nine people, including a school student, were gunned down by security forces during a protest over MBOSE at Tura and Williamnagar fields in what became the darkest chapter in the history of the state and Garo Hills.

Today, the memory of the nine lives lost continues to linger in the hearts and minds of the people of Garo Hills who came together on September 30th to join a special prayer service at the site of the firing incidents.

Led by the September 30th Victims Solidarity Forum and student organisations, particularly the Garo Students Union and the Tura Government College Students Union, people came together for a special service inside the Tura District auditorium following which they proceeded in a procession to the Tura Chandmari field where four of the victims lost their lives on that fateful day.