Curfew imposed in Tikrikilla after one death

Shillong, Oct 3 (UNI) Curfew was imposed this evening at Tikrikilla in Meghalaya's West Garo Hill district after a youth was beaten to death by a mob just after the immersion of the Goddess Durga yesterday evening.

West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner P Sampath Kumar told reporters that the youth was attacked by a group of inebriated youths when he was found going around with a girl from another community.

The curfew, Mr Kumar said, was clamped as a precautionary measure for 16 hours from 1800 hrs today to 1000 hrs tomorrow.

He said about twleve people had been arrested in connection with the killing of one Saljagring Marak yesterday. However, the Deputy Commissioner made it clear that the incident was not related to puja celebration but was fueled when a group of boys spotted a girl from their community going around with a boy from another community.

''They attacked the boy and he later succumbed to the injury'', Mr Kumar said, adding that the situation was tense but under control.

Additional security forces were on stand-by and would be deployed if necessary.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Robert Garnet Lyngdoh told UNI here that the government was monitoring the situation in the area and sent re-enforcement when required. At present, Mr Lyngdoh said, the situation was under control.

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