Meghalaya: GHADC elections on hold as protests turn violent
Meghalaya has put the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections on hold after protests turned violent this week.
Trouble began when a non-tribal candidate, S G Esmatur Mominin, was allegedly assaulted while arriving to file his nomination papers, sparking clashes between tribal and non-tribal groups.
Core issue: New rules requiring candidates to have ST certificates
The unrest led to two deaths in police firing and reports of arson across West Garo Hills.
With curfews, internet shutdowns in five districts, and even Class 12 board exams in West Garo Hills were postponed, daily life has been seriously disrupted.
The core issue? New rules requiring candidates to have Scheduled Tribe certificates have fueled long-standing tensions over who gets to represent the region.
Until things calm down, election dates are on pause, highlighting just how deep questions of identity and representation run in Meghalaya right now.