Wednesday, October 5 2005 14:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Shillong: Notwithstanding heavy rains and bad road conditions in Garo hills, Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang and his entourage today (Oct 05, 2005) drove to Tura and Williamnagar to meet the aggrieved people there following Friday's (Sept 30, 2005) police firing which killed nine persons and injured over 100 others.

Lapang, who had to cancel his scheduled trip to Garo hills because of bad weather yesterday, left for Guwahati en route to Tura, about 300 km from here, by road early this morning. He was likely to reach the West Garo hills district headquarters in the afternoon, official sources said here.

Lapang cancelled a scheduled all-party meeting at his residence today and rescheduled his trip to Delhi tomorrow to attend Congress chief ministers' conclave being held at Chandigarh from October 7 to visit Tura.

Curfew in Tura, which was experiencing heavy rains, was relaxed for four hours from 10 am today, the West Garo hills district magistrate L R Sangma said.

Sangma said she had no reports of social organisations boycotting the Chief Minister and his entourage at Tura.

Although officials at the CM's secretariat said Lapang was also scheduled to visit Williamnagar during the day, East Garo hills District Magistrate F Kharlyngdoh said they were awaiting instructions on the CM's visit. Curfew was relaxed for six hours at Williamnagar from 10 am, he said.

Lapang's entourage comprised senior ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, other cabinet colleagues, senior civil and police officials.