Shillong, Feb 19: Thirteen people have been arrested in connection with a deadly attack in Goalgaon in West Garo Hills district that left one person dead, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed the state legislature on February 19.
The arrests, confirmed as of February 12, 2026, marked the most significant police action in the case so far. Sangma declined to disclose the identities of those detained, stating that doing so would hamper the ongoing investigation.
According to the Chief Minister’s statement in the House, the incident occurred when members of an NGO were returning from Paradanga village after inspecting a stone quarry. Their vehicles were stopped at Goalgaon, where a group allegedly attacked them with stones, leading to one fatality.
The clash highlighted tensions surrounding stone quarrying activities in the region, though the government did not elaborate on the broader context. Quarrying has remained a sensitive issue in Meghalaya, particularly in the Garo Hills belt, where disputes over land use, permits and community rights have frequently surfaced.
The matter was raised by MLA Rupa Marak, who sought details on the cause of the incident and the steps taken by the government. Sangma responded directly to the query without tabling supplementary documents.
During the same session, the House was informed that Rajabala Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the area, had been upgraded from an outpost to a full-fledged police station in December 2022. The station currently functions with a strength of 31 personnel across various ranks.
