The Meghalaya Police has arrested three persons in connection with the killing of the member of a non-governmental organisation, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Saturday.

The chief minister made the statement after the killing of the man led to tensions in the state’s West Garo Hills district, which borders Bangladesh.

The man, identified as Dilseng Sangma, died on Friday after unidentified assailants attacked a team of the non-governmental organisation ACHIK in Goalgaon village, The Shillong Times reported. Another member of the team was seriously injured.

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The team had gone to the village in the Rajabala police station area to examine an allegedly illegal stone quarry.

The motive behind the attack was not clear.

“We can be specific after the investigation is over,” West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Abraham T Sangma was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

On Saturday, the district and the broader Garo Hills region observed a shutdown to protest the killing of the man, The Hindu reported.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Saturday condemned the killing.

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He said that the police had conducted several raids in the district on Friday night, which led to the arrest of the three persons. He added that efforts were being made to apprehend others involved in the matter.

The chief minister urged the people of the district to ensure peace and communal harmony continues to prevail.

“There may be a lot of news circulating on social media,” he added. “Please filter them carefully.”

The deputy commissioner of the West Garo Hills district was holding discussions with civil society groups to form a peace committee to ensure that concerns are addressed through a dialogue, the chief minister said.

Rajabala MLA Mizanur Rahman Kazi said on social media that the administration’s priority was to maintain law and order. He added that the “overall situation is currently peaceful and the spirit of brotherhood prevails”.