TURA, May 11: A large number of people have been admitted to hospital after consuming fish served at a funeral in a Garo village in Assam bordering Adokgre in North Garo Hills.
The incident happened on Wednesday in Mariampur village of Goalpara district where a large congregation of garo villagers, including many from Adokgre and Kharkutta, went to attend the funeral of a villager.
The local social organization from the areao A.chik Organization for Social welfare (AOSW) has said that 160 people fell ill shortly after returning home from the funeral where they were served fish with their meals.
“We urge the district authorities of entire Garo Hills to keep strict vigil and check out the import of fish and broilers consistently from Assam to Garo Hills. We have just witnessed yesterday for the second time that more than 160 people who have participated in the funeral ceremony in the village called, Mariampur, Goalpara District, Assam near A.dokgre, Meghalaya border became unconciousness after eating challan fish in the ceremony. All are found with same symtomps that it is the consequence of eating poisoned challan fish. The custom of the village usually offers rice with piece of fish and dal curry for those who attend a funeral ceramony”, Said Gripping Marak, the president of AOSW.
He said that the same fish must be getting imported already to some part of Garo Hills and it must be strictly checked by the concern district authorities without delay.
“It is serious as to what has just occurred in Mariampur village. It is our eartnest request to concern district authorities to make sure that we eat safe and healthy food in Garo Hills by watching one`s step towards the importing fish and broilers as well from Assam,” said the AOSW.
“We are also clear that we will cooperate with the district authorities in keeping our eye open towards the malafide traders and importers from outside th state. We also request all citizens to be aware of it before buying challan fish and broilers because it is likely to be already imported to some part of Garo Hills. All must remain awake for everywhere we look checking to be done strictly especially non-tribals who are carrying fish to Garo Hills from Assam by bike and cars to door step of the villagers”, Alerted Gripping Marak.
