Tura: The victims of the tragic police firing that took place on September 30, 2005, while protesting the alleged bifurcation of the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE), were remembered and honoured in a solemn prayer service held on Monday at the District Auditorium in Tura.
The 2005 incident, in which nine people lost their lives as police fired upon an agitating mob, shocked the Garo Hills and the state of Meghalaya as a whole.
The firing occurred at two locations—Chandmary Playground in Tura and Rongrenggre Playground in Williamnagar—when the protest turned violent. Four individuals were killed in Tura, and five others lost their lives in Williamnagar.
Since the tragic event, the 30th September Victims’ Solidarity Forum has organised an annual prayer service to commemorate the fallen victims. This year’s memorial service was attended by church leaders, senior citizens, social organisations, and student groups. Families of the victims were also honored by leaders of civil societies and senior citizens during the ceremony.
Following the service at the District Auditorium, attendees marched to the sites of the tragic incidents to offer floral tributes and light candles at the cenotaphs erected in memory of the victims. Bamboo torches were lit by family members at the exact locations where each of the victims fell, adding to the solemn atmosphere of remembrance.
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