Tura World War I Cenotaph Demolition Row: NGOs Demand Removal of West Garo Hills DC, Tura Municipal Board CEO Over Alleged Misconduct, CM Assures Action

Tura WW-I Cenotaph Demolition Row: The NGOs said that the DC and TMB CEO must step down, as their actions have eroded public trust

A massive controversy has erupted in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills over the demolition of the historic World War I Cenotaph in Tura, with the Joint NGOs Forum demanding the immediate removal of West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani and Tura Municipal Board CEO Rikse R. Marak.

The forum has also stressed the need for the establishment of an independent oversight committee to ensure that any redevelopment is conducted with full transparency, public participation, and due respect for the cultural sensitivities of the indigenous people of Tura.

It emphasized that only a transparent and lawful approach can prevent further erosion of Meghalaya’s cultural heritage and restore public trust in the administration.

Alleging gross administrative misconduct, unlawful tendering, and blatant disregard for indigenous sentiments, the NGOs have petitioned Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today to take urgent action against the officials responsible.

Stating that the act has deeply hurt the sentiments of the indigenous Garo people, the forum has accused DC Jagdish Chelani, and the CEO of Tura Municipal Board of bypassing due process, engaging in unlawful tendering, and disregarding cultural and historical sensitivities.

It stated that its destruction, carried out without due consultation or public consensus, is an unforgivable act of administrative insensitivity that disregards the emotional and historical ties that the Garo people hold with their ancestors.

“This blatant violation of indigenous rights, compounded by the lack of transparency in the tendering process for the so-called “renovation” of the site, is an insult to the community’s dignity and demands immediate redressal at the highest level of governance,” it said.

The Joint NGOs Forum has also condemned the alleged mistreatment of the Mothers’ Union by the DC.

It said, “The Mothers’ Union, a respected pillar of Garo society, approached the administration in good faith to raise concerns, only to be met with hostility and accusations of political bias.”

The NGOs criticised the DC’s actions as a direct insult to the matrilineal values of the Garo community, calling it an unacceptable display of disregard for indigenous women and their role in society.

It has demanded accountability, stating that such humiliation of a women-led organization is unacceptable, reprehensible, and a stark reflection of the systemic alienation of local voices in administrative decision-making.

The redevelopment of Tura’s historic Cenotaph has come under scrutiny after an RTI inquiry by the Garoland State Movement Committee revealed serious procedural violations.

The NGOs said that the project was allegedly approved without public consultation, lawful tendering, or a No-Objection Certificate from the Tura Town Planning Board. Concerns of corruption and favouritism have intensified, as the contract was secretly awarded to Dhruv Prasad, a contractor with a history of malpractice.

The conduct of the Deputy Commissioner and the CEO of Tura Municipal Board is not merely an issue of administrative inefficiency; it is a matter of grave legal and ethical violations that must be addressed with the urgency and seriousness they demand.

It said that immediate action is essential to restore justice and accountability. The Deputy Commissioner and TMB CEO must step down, as their actions have eroded public trust. An independent oversight committee is crucial to ensure transparent redevelopment that respects Tura’s cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, CM Conrad Sangma met the Joint NGOs Forum and assured to form a new committee on the issue even as all activity at the dismantled cenotaph site will be put on hold until further notice.

The new committee will come up within a week.

The Joint NGOs forum expressed satisfaction over the CM’s assurance on the issue.

Earlier, the Mothers’ Union, Tura in Meghalaya said that the RTI findings revealed that the site is set to be replaced by a commercial complex, complete with parking facilities and a restaurant. The monument itself, shockingly, is proposed to be relocated to the terrace of the structure, a move the Mothers’ Union deems as an insult to its historical significance.

Also Read: Betrayal of Trust? Mothers’ Union, Tura Slams DC Over WW-I Cenotaph Demolition Plans

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