SHILLONG, April 4 — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused “infiltrators” of marrying Garo women to systematically seize control of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), framing recent deadly unrest in the region as a fight over demographic survival. His remarks came amid heightened tensions over who may contest the council polls.
Addressing an election rally in Assam on Friday, Shah linked the violence in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills to alleged infiltration, saying outsiders exploit marriages to gain political footholds in tribal institutions. “There was an election in Meghalaya in Garo Hills. There was violence because they lure the innocent Garo females, these infiltrators marry them, [and] wanted to capture the GHADC,” he said.
The Home Minister also targeted the Congress party, alleging it had turned Assam into a gateway for illegal immigrants and warning that a return of the party to power would bring “infiltrators” into tribal areas.
The comments follow a period of intense unrest triggered by the participation of non-tribal candidates in the GHADC elections. The nomination period saw clashes, arson and vandalism, particularly in West Garo Hills, and at least two people were killed during the violence, including one person who died from police firing.
The breakdown of law and order prompted the state government to impose curfews, suspend mobile internet services and deploy the Army for flag marches. As a result, GHADC elections that had been scheduled for April 10, 2026, were postponed.
Protesters have long demanded that non-tribals be barred from contesting council polls. After the escalation, election rules were amended to require Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates for all candidates. While restrictions have since been eased and normalcy largely returned, security agencies continue to monitor the situation in the Garo Hills.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/04/05/shah-claims-plot-to-hijack-ghadc-links-gh-violence-to-infiltrators/
Category: MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2026-04-05 03:34:00
