Monday, October 3 2005 12:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Shillong: Curfew was relaxed for two hours and four hours today (Oct 03, 2005) in Meghalaya's West and East Garo Hills district headquarters Tura and Williamnagar respectively as the situation was stated to be under control in both the places.

In Tura, the curfew was relaxed from 10 am to 12 noon while in Williamnagar, relaxation was given for four hours from 10 am to 2 pm, respective District Magistrates said.

Curfew, which was clamped on Friday in both the district towns after Police-CRPF firing killed nine persons and injured over 100, was relaxed for three hours yesterday in Williamnaga but no relaxation was given to Tura.

East Garo Hills District Magistrate F Kharlyngdoh said additional force was rushed to some of the places in the district like Kharkotta, Songsak and Mendal where miscreants attempted to set afire an NCP MLA's house and two government offices on Saturday. But there were no further reports of any untoward incidents, he said.

The army, which staged flag march at Williamnagar yesterday, would do it again today after the relaxation period, the DM said.

West Garo Hills District Magistrate L R Sangma said the situation was under control in Tura and the army would stage a flag march later in the day.

Meanwhile, the state cabinet met here today, the second in three days, to assess the situation in Garo hills.

In another related development, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who expressed sorrow over the firing incident, sent party Secretary Mabel Rebello here en route to Garo hills.