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Meghalaya · Jul 2023

Tura, 24 July 2023: the attack on the Meghalaya Chief Minister's office during winter capital talks

A two-week fast for a winter capital and Garo job quotas, three hours of talks, and a crowd that the fasting groups said was not theirs.

Statehood and regional rightsReservation and casteMeghalayaTura

Published 12 Oct 2026Updated 12 Oct 202611 min readBy Facts of India

On 24 July 2023 a crowd stoned the Chief Minister's Office in Tura, West Garo Hills, while Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma was inside holding talks with groups on a two-week hunger strike for a winter capital in Tura and Garo job quotas. Between 5 and 18 security personnel were reported injured, a night curfew followed, and at least 46 people were arrested. In 2025 the state set up an all-party committee on the winter capital; in 2026 it kept the 1972 reservation policy unchanged.

11 Julystart of the ACHIK-led hunger strike in Tura
5 to 18security personnel injured, depending on the report
9 pm to 5 amnight curfew in Tura after the attack
18 to 46arrests reported between 25 and 28 July 2023
21vehicles damaged, per police

Key takeaways

  • On 24 July 2023 a crowd stoned the Tura mini secretariat as Conrad Sangma's talks with them ended. The fasting groups said the attackers were not their members.
  • Reported injuries ranged from 5 to at least 18 security personnel. Arrests reached at least 46, including BJP and TMC members.
  • No decision on a winter capital had been announced by October 2026.

Background: two demands from the Garo Hills

Meghalaya's capital, Shillong, lies in the Khasi Hills Scroll. The Achik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) wanted Tura declared a winter capital for six months a year, from October to March The Quint. ACHIK said a second capital had been promised since statehood in 1972 EastMojo.

The second demand concerned jobs. The 1972 State Reservation Policy reserves 40% of state government jobs for the Khasi-Jaintia, 40% for the Garos and 5% for other tribes. After the High Court found in April 2022 that no roster tracked which category got which post, the state brought one in that May Scroll. The court did not say whether the roster applied prospectively or retrospectively. Garo groups wanted it applied retrospectively Scroll.

Separately, an expert committee to review the 1972 policy was formed in May 2023 after the Voice of the People Party (VPP) leader held a 10-day hunger strike seeking a review Scroll.

The hunger strike

ACHIK began an indefinite hunger strike in front of the mini secretariat at Dakopgre, Tura, on 11 July 2023 EastMojo. The Shillong Times reported that ACHIK, the Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) and the United Garo People's Forum began the strike together, and that AAYF, NIKSAMSO, ASWA, TGCSU and the New Tura Development Forum later joined. The BJP Mahila Morcha and Tura BJP MDC Bernard N Marak also joined Shillong Times. National reports name the Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GHSMC) alongside ACHIK at the talks PTI via Business Standard. No role for the Garo Students' Union (GSU) in the fast was reported.

Responding to the Chief Minister's view that past appointments could not be undone, ACHIK's Laben Ch Marak said no one wanted anyone sacked: "Clearing the backlog 1-2% at a time is enough for us" Shillong Times. On the eighth day, Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani asked them to wait a week for the Chief Minister; they refused EastMojo.

Timeline

  1. Talks

    Conrad Sangma, minister Marcuise Marak and officials meet the groups at the mini secretariat; a "partial solution" is reported EastMojo.

  2. Stones thrown, curfew

    Police use tear gas and baton charges; a police vehicle is burnt and two fire tenders damaged Scroll.

  3. Arrests

    Arrests rise from 18 to at least 46 Outlook.

The attack and how the Chief Minister got out

Crowd estimates ranged from 200 to 300 Sentinel Assam. to at least 1,000 ETV Bharat and "thousands" in the CMO's statement UNI via IndiaBlooms.

An ambulance posted for the strikers was burnt and the protest pandal set on fire EastMojo. Police later said 4 vehicles were burnt and 17 damaged, including vehicles of the Chief Minister's convoy Outlook.

The Chief Minister was not hurt. IANS reported that he could not leave at first because people had encircled the compound and blocked the exits IANS. Madhyamam said he was trapped for around an hour Madhyamam. After the crowd was dispersed he stayed on. He told a news channel: "I am still here overseeing matters. As a lot of our people have been injured, I don't want to leave them in this condition" EastMojo. The sources reviewed do not say when or how he left the building that night.

Injuries: what each source said

  • 5: officials to PTI and police sources to IANS, night of 24 July IANS PTI.
  • About 6, including a woman constable and a fireman: DGP LR Bishnoi to UNI that night UNI via IndiaBlooms.
  • At least 18, including home guards and CRPF: after the DGP's briefing on 25 July PTI via Deccan Herald.

The Chief Minister announced Rs 50,000 for each injured person plus treatment costs PTI via Business Standard.

Curfew and prohibitory orders

The District Magistrate of West Garo Hills imposed Section 144 CrPC orders until further notice. They banned gatherings of five or more people in public places and government offices and set a complete curfew from 9 pm to 5 am. Liquor shops were shut and fuel sales capped at 10 litres a person Sentinel Assam. Schools in the Tura municipal area were closed on 25 July PTI via Business Standard. The sources reviewed do not give a date for lifting the curfew.

Both accounts

Protesting groups' account

Claim · ACHIK ACHIK said none of its members took part. Laben Ch Marak said: "We are all satisfied with the outcome of the meeting with the Chief Minister." He said Sangma had invited them to talks in Shillong on 8 or 9 August UNI via IndiaBlooms. Bernard N Marak, later named in the FIR, denied any role and called police action against him politically motivated EastMojo.

Police and government account

Claim · DGP DGP Bishnoi said it was "a pre-planned conspiracy to attack the chief minister and to damage him physically", and that money was handed to youths on 23 July NE Now. Police said they seized stones, 50 bamboo sticks, 20 catapults and a jerrycan of kerosene PTI via Deccan Herald. He admitted a "partial lapse" in security EastMojo.

Government's position Sangma said the groups had agreed to meet again in Shillong and "seemed more or less satisfied". He said their leaders went out to speak to the crowd and "came back and said they did not know them" Deccan Herald. On 28 July he said: "We want to make it very clear that those arrested were purely based on evidence" Outlook. Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh opposed a second capital and said the attackers were "political leaders of 2-3 parties who lost in the recent state elections" The Quint.

Arrests and the case

On 25 July a senior officer told PTI that 18 people had been arrested, including BJP Mahila Morcha functionaries Belina M Marak and Dilche Ch Marak PTI via Business Standard. Deccan Herald said they included eight BJP and ten TMC workers Deccan Herald. The DGP later put the total at 19, with 26 more identified from video PTI via Deccan Herald. Other reports gave 20 or 22 Scroll. By 28 July, PTI reported at least 46 arrests, including seven women Outlook.

The DGP named Salseng Marak, a former district council candidate, as the "main conspirator" EastMojo. Claim · Police Police accused Richard Marak, who had lost to Conrad Sangma in South Tura in the 2023 Assembly election, of incitement and of distributing cash. His wife said he had been at home with her all day after her surgery EastMojo.

In the case, Araimile police station no. 16(07)/2023, at least 50 people were named as suspects. On 22 August 2023 the High Court granted Bernard N Marak interim protection from arrest EastMojo. The sources reviewed do not report a chargesheet, trial or verdict.

Opposition response

Former Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma accused police of acting "at the behest of political bosses". He sought an independent inquiry monitored by the High Court Outlook. Swarajya reported that he called Richard Marak's arrest a "political witch hunt", that TMC state president Charles Pyngrope blamed police for failing to control the crowd, and that the BJP ordered an internal inquiry Swarajya.

What came next: winter capital and reservation

Winter capital. The sources reviewed do not confirm whether the 8 or 9 August 2023 Shillong meeting took place. In March 2025 the Garo Students' Union wrote to the Chief Minister urging him to "expedite the process" of declaring Tura the winter capital All India Radio. On 6 March 2025 Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma moved an Assembly resolution on the demand. Conrad Sangma said the ruling side could not support it "on technical grounds" but would form a committee, and the resolution was withdrawn. He said Rs 170 crore would be spent on an Integrated Administrative Complex in Tura Shillong Times. Hub Network quoted Rs 100 crore Hub Network. Recalling the talks, he said police had advised him against meeting the groups India Today NE.

A notification of 2 April 2025 constituted an all-party committee, headed by the Chief Minister or a minister he nominates, to study whether a winter capital in Tura is feasible and report to the government Hub Network. In May 2025 the Shillong Times still described it as "yet-to-be constituted" Shillong Times. No report or decision from the committee was found up to October 2026.

Reservation policy. The expert committee's report reached the government in June 2025 NE Now. It was tabled in the Assembly on 18 February 2026 IANS via Punjab Kesari. On 25 February 2026 Conrad Sangma ruled out changing the 1972 policy, saying a new system could expose the 85% tribal quota to legal challenge. He said the committee "did not find sufficient evidence" to change the split between tribes NE Now. An all-party meeting on 6 May 2026 discussed the report; the VPP did not attend IANS via Punjab Kesari. No retrospective backlog policy for Garo posts, as ACHIK demanded, was reported.

Outcome

  • Deaths: None reported.
  • Injuries: 5 to at least 18 security personnel, depending on source and time of report.
  • Property: 4 vehicles burnt and 17 damaged, per police; two fire tenders and an ambulance also damaged.
  • Arrests: 18 to 22 by 25 July; at least 46 by 28 July 2023, including BJP and TMC members.
  • Winter capital: All-party committee notified April 2025; no decision reported.
  • Reservation: 1972 policy kept unchanged, per the Chief Minister in February 2026.

Questions people ask

What happened at the Meghalaya CM's office in Tura in July 2023?

A crowd stoned the Chief Minister's Office in Tura during Conrad Sangma's talks with fasting groups. Security personnel were injured, vehicles burnt and a night curfew imposed.

Who attacked the CM's office in Tura?

The fasting groups said the attackers were not their members. Police called it pre-planned and arrested at least 46 people, including TMC youth leader Richard Marak and BJP Mahila Morcha members. Richard Marak's wife and BJP MDC Bernard Marak denied wrongdoing.

Has Tura been declared the winter capital?

No. An all-party committee was notified in April 2025; no report or decision was public by October 2026.

Sources

  1. EastMojo: Tura NGO begins hunger strike over backlog policy, winter capital, 12 Jul 2023
  2. Shillong Times: ACHIK hunger strike enters 7th day, 18 Jul 2023
  3. EastMojo: ACHIK hunger strike in Tura continues for 8th day, 18 Jul 2023
  4. EastMojo: Curfew in Tura after unruly mob traps CM; 5 cops injured, 24 Jul 2023
  5. IANS: Mob attacks Meghalaya CM Sangma's office, five security personnel injured, 24 Jul 2023
  6. UNI via IndiaBlooms: Night curfew imposed as violence erupts in Tura, 24 Jul 2023
  7. ETV Bharat: Mob pelts stones at Meghalaya CM's office, 25 Jul 2023
  8. Madhyamam: Mob attacks Meghalaya CM's office; Section 144 imposed in Tura, Jul 2023
  9. Deccan Herald: Meghalaya CM's office attacked by mob; five security personnel injured, 25 Jul 2023
  10. Deccan Herald: BJP, TMC workers arrested in Meghalaya CM office attack case, 25 Jul 2023
  11. PTI via Deccan Herald: Attack on CM secretariat preplanned, says DGP, 25 Jul 2023
  12. PTI via Business Standard: BJP functionaries among 18 arrested, 25 Jul 2023
  13. Scroll: Mob attacks Meghalaya CM office in Tura, 25 Jul 2023
  14. Scroll: Two BJP women's wing workers among 20 arrested, 25 Jul 2023
  15. Sentinel Assam: Section 144 enforced in West Garo Hills, Jul 2023
  16. NE Now: Tura violence was possible 'murder' attempt, says DGP, 25 Jul 2023
  17. EastMojo: Attack on CM Sangma was preplanned, 19 arrested, 25 Jul 2023
  18. EastMojo: TMC leader Richard Marak arrested; wife denies police claims, 25 Jul 2023
  19. The Quint: Why certain groups want Tura as Meghalaya's winter capital, 25 Jul 2023
  20. Swarajya: Trinamool accused of orchestrating attack bid, Jul 2023
  21. Outlook (PTI): 46 arrested in Tura mob attack, 28 Jul 2023
  22. EastMojo: HC grants interim relief to MDC in 'Tura mayhem' case, 24 Aug 2023
  23. Scroll: In Meghalaya, divide over the state's reservation policy deepens, 2024
  24. All India Radio Shillong: North East news bulletin (GSU letter), Mar 2025
  25. Shillong Times: Govt to examine demand for Tura as winter capital, 7 Mar 2025
  26. India Today NE: Meghalaya to form committee on Tura winter capital proposal, 6 Mar 2025
  27. Hub Network: Demand for winter capital, Mukul withdraws resolution, 6 Mar 2025
  28. Hub Network: Meghalaya constitutes all-party committee on winter capital at Tura, 3 Apr 2025
  29. Shillong Times: Speaker backs demand for winter capital in Tura, 19 May 2025
  30. NE Now: Final decision on reservation policy will take time, 8 Sept 2025
  31. NE Now: Meghalaya CM rejects reservation policy revision, 26 Feb 2026
  32. IANS via Punjab Kesari: All-party meeting on reservation policy report, 6 May 2026