Tura, Sept 30: The nine civilians who died twenty years ago in police firing at Tura and Williamnagar, during a protest relating to state education board MBOSE, were fondly remembered at a solemn service in the two towns on Tuesday evening with citizens lighting candles, placing floral wreaths and participating in a special prayer service to commemorate the tragic event.
The memorial service for the nine victims and scores of others who sustained bullet injuries on that fateful day was organized by the September 30th Victims Solidary Forum with support from various student and social organizations of Garo Hills.
Earlier, families of the victims visited the graves of their loved ones who were killed in that incident, placing wreaths and offering prayers.
In Tura the ceremony was held outside Chandmari field where four victims fell to police firing, while in Williamnagar the event took place at Rongrenggre school field where five other civilians were killed on the same day. A monument with the names of the victims inscribed on it have been erected at both the scenes of the firing incident.
Tributes were paid to the nine lives lost, including 13-year old school student Dipok D Shira, with speakers offering prayers and consoling the families of the victims.
The solemn ceremony concluded with citizens placing wreaths at the cenotaph and lighting candles in memory of the fallen men.
