By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The one-day office picketing in four districts of the State called by three NGOs — KSU, FKJGP and HNYF– opposing enrollment of “dubious” voters passed off peacefully amidst very thin attendances in government offices even as banks and other financial institutions remained closed on Monday.
Normal functioning in almost all the government offices was paralyzed in all the four districts — East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi.
In Shillong, BSF personnel were deployed to man various ‘sensitive’ government buildings.
There was very thin attendance in government offices in Shillong and only about 20 per cent of the government employees turned up for duty.
The Main Secretariat wore a deserted look. Not only the staff, even the Ministers decided to stay away from their offices.
Except of Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong, none of the Ministers were present in their offices on Monday.
The overall attendance in the four districts was around 40 per cent, informed Additional Chief Secretary PBO Warjri.
He told reporters here that Jaintia Hills recorded the highest percentage of office goers with 75 per cent.
Meanwhile, official sources informed that the attendance of office goers in East Khasi Hills was between 35 to 40 percent while in West Khasi Hills, the attendance in Government offices was around 70 per cent.
Official sources further informed that the attendance in Ri-Bhoi district was 60 per cent.
Meanwhile, police arrested four persons for preventing the staff of NEEPCO from going to their office at Saw Furlong.
According to police, the arrested persons were members of the FKJGP and KSU.
The FKJGP members who were arrested are Johnson Nongdhar and Andy Lorikson Kharmawlong while KSU members are Teiborlang Nongbri and Bronson Nongrum.
According to police, the apprehended individuals were remanded to 14-day judicial custody.
With the arrest of these four, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police AR Mawthoh said police have so far arrested 18 people since the NGOs started their agitation.
Some of them were later released on bail, Mawthoh added.