Thursday, October 6 2005 17:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Shillong: Meghalaya chief minister D D Lapang today (Oct 6, 2005) personally handed over rupees five-lakh compensation and ex-gratia of rupees one lakh to the kin of the five victims who were killed in police Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) firing at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills district on Friday.

Lapang is currently visiting Tura and Williamnagar to meet people aggrieved by the firing that left altogether nine dead and over 100 injured in both the places.

During his nearly two and half hour long stay at Williamnagar, Lapang consoled the bereaved family members, met some of the village elders and observed a two-minute silence to pay respect to the dead, District magistrate F Kharlyngdoh said.

After an overnight stay at West Garo Hills district town Tura, Lapang and his entourage flew to Williamnagar today.

No leader of the Garo Students Union (GSU) or Garo Hills Citizen Forum (GHCF) met the chief minister. Even the church leaders were 'prevented' by some people from meeting Lapang.

But All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Mabel Rebello took the initiative and went on her own and met the religious leaders, the district magistrate said.

Curfew was today relaxed in Williamnagar from 1 pm to 5 pm. In Tura, the curfew was relaxed from 10 am to 4 pm today.

During his meeting with church leaders at Tura yesterday (Oct 5,2005) which was not attended by GSU and GHCF members, the church leaders had lamented about the absence of ministers and MLAs of Garo hills soon after Friday's incident.

Demanding a high-power judicial inquiry, they demanded more compensation for the family members of the firing victims.