Tura, March 1: Four weeks of continuous protests and strikes by student and social organisations opposed to the elevation of Rakesh A Sangma as the new CEM of GHADC has finally ended on Monday afternoon with a mammoth rally by protestors in Tura to celebrate his stepping down.
Crowds from anywhere between 4000-5000 people from South Garo Hills, North Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills and East Garo Hills entered Tura in convoys of vehicles to join their counterparts from West Garo Hills and stage a victory rally which was initially disallowed by the administration as section 144 was imposed prohibiting any rallies on account of the volatile situation since tense standoffs had taken place in the last one week including the gheraoing of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma outside Chandmari field when he went to inaugurate the first artificial turf football field on Saturday.
The huge mobilisation of people by the protest organisations took district authorities by surprise as protestors continued to stream in from different parts of Garo Hills into Tura.
Initially, calls were made on social media on Sunday for a march to the GHADC office to demand the resignation of CEM Rakesh A Sangma. Though the CEM tendered his resignation on Sunday night there was disbelief and protestors decided to head to Tura for the proposed rally to the council.
Later, after it was clarified to the leaders of the protesters that the CEM had indeed stepped down, the agitators sought a victory march through main areas of Tura town to end their month-long agitation.
The crowds marched behind a vehicle mounted with speakers that announced the victory and those behind shouted in unison hailing Garo Hills and GHADC.
Prior to the rally, district authorities urged traders to close their shops during the rally to prevent anti-social elements from creating mischief.
As night fell on Monday, Tura was limping back to normal days of before with streets bustling with people, fast food stalls up and running in the markets and trade taking off in shops.
