Tura, Sept 30: The Garo Students’ Union (GSU) commemorated the Martyr’s Day with its 18th annual memorial service for the 30th September ’05 Matgrik at Tura’s Chandmari playground, near Cenotaph, on Saturday. The solemn event was attended by a handful of locals, GSU members and family members of the martyrs who paid their respects to the brave souls that the day commemorates.

18 years back on this day, 9 innocent souls from Garo Hills were lost to the bullets of police during the protests against the bifurcation of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE). The day has also come to be known as the ‘Black Friday’, the darkest chapter in the history of the state and Garo Hills. Where four teenage students were killed by the police in Tura and five in Williamnagar during a protest over MBOSE at Tura and Williamnagar fields.

Beginning at 5 pm, the service was inaugurated with a prayer by Humbirth M Sangma. The assembly then joined in the soulful singing of the hymn “Pangnan Nangko Nanga”. The event gained momentum with a keynote address by Manseng A Sangma, Asst. Secretary General of NESO. Following this, a poignant speech was delivered by Tengsak G Momin, President of GSU-CEC, Tura. Dainora R Marak enriched the atmosphere with a scripture reading. Ensuing, an intercessory prayer was led by Jerry Sengchang A Sangma, General Secretary of TGCSU Tura. The attendees were then treated to a short exhortation by Rev. Brother Insting C Marak.

A highlight of the event was a special song performance by students of Tura Government College, Tura. It was then followed by the felicitation to the families of the martyrs. This was followed by the singing of another hymn, “Angmung Dongbo”.

The ceremony culminated with the lighting of candles, first by the martyrs’ families and then by other attendees, at the cenotaph, symbolizing remembrance and hope.

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Earlier in the day, the members of 30th September Victims’ Solidarity Forum paid homage to the departed souls by visiting the tomb of the people who were killed during police firing on 30th September in Tura. They visited the tombs of late Sengran Marak at Rongkhon Songgital, late Dipok D Shira at Balsri Gittim, Dobasipara and late Benedict R Marak, Burny Hills.

The annual event stands as a profound testament to honouring the memory and legacies of those who sacrificed their lives on the 30th of September 2005, ensuring that their sacrifices are not forgotten and they continue to inspire generations to come.

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