Indefinite curfew has been imposed in Dalu area in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district Saturday after a bloody clash between two tribal groups over A’king (clan) land, an official said.

A 40-year-old woman Jayanti Sangma was hacked to death and five houses were reduced to ashes by an unruly mob, the official said.
“An indefinite curfew has been clamped in all areas under Dalu police station since 5 P.M this evening (Saturday) following bloody clashes between two tribal Garo clans over a land issue,” Pravin Bakshi, the district magistrate of West Garo Hills said.

“The situation is now totally under control and the district superintendent of  police Mukesh Kumar Singh and other additional district magistrate have rushed to Dalu to take stock of the situation,” he added.

Bakshi said the clash erupted after two tribal Garo clans claiming over Adugachol A’king land which Magupara village Nokma (chief) is claiming from Adugachol Nokma.
He said the dispute over the land is still pending in the court of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.

A’king lands belong to the particular motherhood whose head is a female. The ultimate ownership lies with the motherhood which exercise its control through her husband.
The A’king Nokma being a mere custodian and guardian of A. king lands cannot take any arbitrary decisions in matter of sale, mortgage, gift, transfer.