World War I Cenotaph demolition controversy
Tura, March 27: The West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani and Tura Municipal Board CEO Smt Rikse R Marak find themselves in the firing line of the protesting Garo organizations who have demanded their ouster over the demolition of the century old World War I Garo Labour Corps cenotaph at Tura, terming it an “Unforgivable Act”.
The anger over the demolition has been continuing for well over a week and members of the protesting groups- under the banner of the joint NGOs Forum and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), met with Meghalaya Chief minister Conrad K Sangma in Tura on Thursday calling for the immediate removal of the deputy commissioner and the municipal CEO.
Labelling the demolition an “unforgivable act,” the protesting groups accused the officials of irreparable damage to public trust and cultural heritage.
The forum’s petition minced no words, stating, “The continued presence of the Deputy Commissioner and the CEO of TMB in their respective offices is no longer tenable. Their removal is a necessity to uphold democratic accountability and restore faith in the governance of West Garo Hills.”
The demolition, they argue, reflects administrative insensitivity and a blatant disregard for the Garo people’s emotional and historical connection to the monument.
For Garos, the Labour Corps memorial Cenotaph- a sacred symbol honouring the brave Garo men who went to France to help the Allied forces in the first World War, is more than just a structure as it embodies the community’s collective identity, sacrifice, and pride. Its dismantling has ignited widespread anger.
In their petition to the chief minister, the forum strongly criticized the lack of transparency in the renovation project, pointing to procedural lapses such as the absence of an official tender notification, failure to secure a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Tura Town Planning Board, and alleged arbitrary awarding of contracts.
Beyond the officials’ removal, the NGOs demanded the cancellation of the existing renovation tender and the initiation of a new, transparent process compliant with legal and ethical standards.
They also proposed the formation of an independent oversight committee, including representatives from civil society, indigenous cultural bodies, legal experts, and historians, to ensure redevelopment respects the cultural sensitivities of Tura’s indigenous people. “This is not about bureaucratic convenience or financial opportunism—it must reflect the will and aspirations of the people,” the petition emphasized.
The forum further alleged that the demolition violates national laws and international agreements, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the International Labour Organization’s Convention 169, which mandate free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) for projects affecting indigenous communities. “The Cenotaph’s destruction is an assault on our historical consciousness,” stated the Convenor of the forum in the petition to Conrad Sangma, underscoring the need for safeguards to prevent future violations.
As the controversy continues to linger, the forum has warned that without swift action—starting with the removal of Chelani and Marak—public faith in the administration could erode further.
