Saturday, October 1 2005 19:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Shillong: While the funeral of the nine victims of Garo Hills region who died in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) firing took place in the respective district headquarters in Meghalaya, there was no report of any violence today (Oct 1, 2005).

Official sources said curfew continues to be in force in the two district towns of Tura and Williamnagar where violence had erupted simultaneously yesterday (Oct 30, 2005). leading to nine deaths and injury to several people.

Of the four deaths in West Garo Hills district town Tura, the funeral of three took place at Tura and the body of the fourth was sent to East Garo Hills district town Williamnagar as the victim belonged to that place, district magistrate L R Sangma told sources from Tura.

Sangma said 40 civilians, 38 policemen and security force personnel were injured during the incident in Tura yesterday.

Of the civilians, six were referred to Guwahati for further medical treatment and the rest with bullet injuries was being treated at the Tura civil hospital.

At Williamnagar, where five persons died, funeral of six including the one who died at Tura took place, district magistrate F Kharlyngdoh said.

He clarified that three persons had died on the spot and two succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Twenty-two civilians, 10 CRPF women, 6 CRPF men and 15 state police personnel were injured.

Both the district magistrates said the Army was not yet deployed in the districts but kept 'stand by'.

Border Security Force (BSF) and other para-military personnel were patrolling the streets.

Violence had erupted almost simultaneously in the two district towns when the police and security forces fired at protestors who had assembled defying prohibitory orders at the call of the Garo Students Union for demonstrating against a Government-appointed committee's recommendation on school education.