The famous tourist spots in the city – the Ward’s Lake, the Lady
Hydari Park and the Golf Course – have of late become a happy hunting ground for young lovers.
If anyone goes to visit these spots they are greeted with the sight of many young couples sitting either under the shade of a tree or an umbrella and often indulging in indecent behaviour which presents a distasteful sight to visitors mostly tourists and families.
Although it would be wrong to pose restrictions on expression of the God-gifted feeling of love, yet several people have complained of how some young couples forget their boundaries and indulge in open display of intimate moments without showing any respect to passers-by.
A tourist couple who were on a visit to Ward’s lake recently lamented the acts of young boys and girls, mostly college goers, who were oblivious to their surroundings as they shared some moments together.
The tourists observed that these young couples should learn to respect the feelings of the visitors most of whom are children.
Some people who went to Lady Hydari Park said, “This problem does not exist in Shillong only but is to be found everywhere.”
Another familiar sight that greets visitors to the scenic Golf Links area is of groups of youth who often indulge in drinking and then littering, thereby presenting a bad sight to the visitors.
Visitors to these family recreational spots believe that couples should be respectful of people’s sentiments and especially those of children.
It may be reminded that last year, an NGO had caught some young couples indulging in immoral acts in public spots and later issued a deadline to young couples not to indulge in indecent behaviour in public places.
Their diktat however was opposed by many who were of the opinion that an NGO does not have any right to enforce moral policing.
Earlier police had even raided few of the spots and even detained many couples who indulged in open display of affection.
Reacting on the issue, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest VK Nautiyal said that there have been times when forest staffs have raised objections to some young couples indulging in open display of their emotions. “We have even lodged complaints in some cases when couples were caught red-handed,” Nautiyal added. (By Aafaque Hussain)