Tura, Feb 14: Several protesting groups that took Garo Hills Autonomous District Council by storm on Monday breaking through barricades and forcibly entering the council premises have announced that their agitation will continue through the entire week.“This is just the first day of the protests and we intend to continue our agitation for the remaining four working days of this week,” announced FKJGP Garo Hills president Pritam Marak while speaking to the media shortly after conclusion of their district council office gherao.

In what can be termed a breach of security and violation of prohibitory orders, hundreds of angry protestors from various corners of Garo Hills led by Garo Hills organisations opposed to the election of CEM Rakesh A Sangma broke through police cordons and forcibly entered the premises of the GHADC at noon on Monday shouting slogans demanding removal of the new council chief.

Shocked employees of the district council abandoned their working positions and fled after witnessing the crowd barging in. Attendance in office had been high on the first working day of the week with almost all departments recording 80 and above percentage until the sudden turn of events which led to chaos.

Police and magistrates were left with little or no option but to step aside as the crowd surged ahead forcing the gates of the council office to be opened as they raised their demands.

‘Not against mixed blood but way of life’

The leaders of the protesting organisations, namely GSU, FKJGP, ADE, AYWO and FAF, which had earlier accused Rakesh A Sangma of being a non-garo on account of his father’s title has clarified that they are not against mixed blood holding the office of the CEM.

“We are protesting not because of his mixed blood but because he has never followed the Garo traditions and customs preferring to be different all throughout his life. When someone who is holding the key judicial and executive position of CEM doesn’t know the Garo way of life, it can lead to controversial judgements being delivered that will set a precedent and cannot be taken back,” claimed FKJGP’s Pritam Marak.

He said that those with mixed blood have also previously been CEMs of the district council but faced no opposition because they followed the tradition and culture of the Garo tribe.

The FKJGP even went to the extend to comment that they have no objection to anyone, including Jengjal NPP MDC Grahambell A Sangma, becoming the CEM.

“MDCs like Grahambell have lived the life of a tribal garo since childhood and still does. For such people we have no objections, unlike the current CEM who has never followed our customs,” claims the FKJGP leader.

It may be mentioned that the protesting groups had earlier charged Rakesh A Sangma of being a non-Garo which led to his Agitok clan and his mother Gracie Margaret A Sangma to come out with a public statement clarifying on his tribal issue.

She issued a press statement and pointed out that Rakesh is a garo of the Agitok clan since she is a tribal mother and as per the customs of the Garos any child born of a tribal mother is recognised as a tribal as per the matrilineal system of the Garo tribe.

That statement has failed to calm tempers as the protesting groups reiterated their demand for removal of Rakesh Sangma from the CEM’s chair and launched their protest march and forcible entry taking district officials and the state government off their guard.

To prevent a similar episode of mass gathering at the William Point park, next to the HADC office complex, police had cordoned the entire area off permitting only council employees to pass through with a valid identity card.

That did not dither the angry protestors who decided to prove a thing or two to the administration.

They organised themselves at the Tura Government College field in Teteng Aja, approximately 2.5 kms from the council and at 12 noon marched in unison carrying red protest flags and shouting slogans to the district council office which they overtook and held a protest meeting.