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Army columns deployed in Meghalaya after 2 killed in police firing; curfew clamped

March 10, 2026 5 min read Internal Security Polity & Governance Social Issues GS Paper 2 GS Paper 3
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What Happened

  • Two persons were killed in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya amid violent clashes linked to nomination disputes for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections.
  • Tensions escalated after a February 17, 2026, notification by the GHADC Executive Committee made it mandatory for all candidates to produce a valid Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate, which tribal pressure groups supported as necessary to protect the council's tribal character.
  • Violence erupted when a former legislator attempted to file his nomination at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Tura and was assaulted by protesters; security forces opened fire to disperse a violent mob.
  • The State government deployed five Army columns, clamped a district-wide curfew, and suspended mobile internet services for 48 hours.
  • The Meghalaya government subsequently postponed the GHADC elections, which had been scheduled for April 10, 2026.

Static Topic Bridges

Sixth Schedule of the Constitution — Tribal Autonomous Councils in North-East India

The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution (operative under Articles 244(2) and 275(1)) provides special governance arrangements for tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. It establishes Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) with legislative, executive, judicial, and financial powers over specified matters. Meghalaya has three ADCs: the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). These councils were retained when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972. The Sixth Schedule is distinct from the Fifth Schedule, which governs tribal areas in other states through Tribal Advisory Councils and the concept of "Scheduled Areas."

  • Constitutional basis: Articles 244(2) and 275(1)
  • Applicable states: Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram
  • GHADC composition: Not more than 30 members, most elected (adult franchise), up to 4 nominated by the Governor
  • Legislative powers of ADCs: Land management, forests, canal water, shifting cultivation, village administration, inheritance of property, marriage/divorce, social customs
  • Judicial powers: ADC Courts can try cases where all parties belong to Scheduled Tribes
  • Difference from Fifth Schedule: Fifth Schedule applies to other states; governed through Governors' authority and Tribal Advisory Councils; Sixth Schedule grants direct legislative power to councils

Connection to this news: The GHADC elections and the ST certificate controversy are rooted in the Sixth Schedule's design — the council was specifically created to protect tribal interests, making eligibility of non-tribal candidates a politically charged constitutional question.

Army Deployment Powers and Internal Security in North-East India

The Constitution of India gives the Union exclusive authority over the armed forces (Entry 1, Union List). The Army can be deployed in aid of civil power under Section 130 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958. In states not under AFSPA, Army columns are deployed at the request of the civil administration and operate under the supervision of civilian authorities — they conduct flag marches and assist in restoring order but their powers are more limited than under AFSPA. Meghalaya is partially covered by AFSPA (AFSPA applies to districts bordering Assam), but the Garo Hills area has had AFSPA reduced over time.

  • Army deployment authority: Section 130 CrPC (requisition by magistrate); Union List Entry 1 for armed forces
  • AFSPA 1958: Grants Army special powers (search, arrest, use of force) in "Disturbed Areas" declared by the Central or State government
  • "Column" deployment: An Army column (typically platoon-sized) conducts flag marches without invoking AFSPA powers when civil authority requests assistance
  • Curfew authority: Section 144 CrPC (magistrate's order) or Section 163 BNSS 2023 (equivalent provision under new code)
  • Internet shutdown authority: Section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act, 1885 read with Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency) Rules, 2017

Connection to this news: The deployment of five Army columns at the request of the civil administration (not under AFSPA) illustrates the distinction between "aid to civil power" deployments and AFSPA-covered operations — a distinction frequently tested in UPSC.

Scheduled Tribes, Eligibility for ADC Elections, and Tribal Identity

Scheduled Tribes are communities notified under Article 342 of the Constitution by the President (on the advice of the Governor, for state-specific lists). ST status confers eligibility for reservations in education, employment, and elected bodies, including ADC seats. The controversy in GHADC centres on whether candidates from non-tribal communities (reportedly including Miya Muslims, a community of Bengali-origin Muslims settled in the Garo Hills) can contest elections to a council designed exclusively for tribal governance. Under the Sixth Schedule, the ADC is specifically a tribal institution, and there is a longstanding debate about whether the ST certificate requirement violates the rights of non-tribal residents.

  • Article 342: President specifies Scheduled Tribes in consultation with the Governor for each state
  • Sixth Schedule ADC elections: Governed by the GHADC (Administration of the District Council) Rules
  • West Garo Hills: Location of Tura (administrative headquarters), scene of the violence
  • Community tensions: Between Garo tribal groups and Miya Muslim settlers over candidate eligibility
  • GHADC election postponed from April 10, 2026 following the violence

Connection to this news: The ST certificate requirement that triggered the violence is a direct application of the Sixth Schedule's tribal protection intent, but also raises Article 14 (equality) and Article 326 (universal adult suffrage) questions about exclusion from electoral participation.

Key Facts & Data

  • GHADC: Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, established under Sixth Schedule (Articles 244(2) and 275(1))
  • Three ADCs in Meghalaya: Khasi Hills ADC, Jaintia Hills ADC, Garo Hills ADC
  • Deaths: 2 persons killed in West Garo Hills on/around March 9–10, 2026
  • Army columns deployed: 5; flag marches conducted in Chibinang and Tura
  • Internet suspended: 48 hours; curfew clamped district-wide
  • GHADC elections postponed: Originally scheduled April 10, 2026
  • Trigger: February 17, 2026 GHADC notification mandating valid ST certificate for candidates
  • Article 342: President's power to specify Scheduled Tribes