Our Bureau
SHILLONG: Normal life was on Thursday disrupted in Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and in parts of Tripura due to a 12-hour bandh called by the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) demanding deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants from the region.
Shops, markets, business establishments, government and private offices, banks and education institutions remained closed in all those states during the dawn-to-dusk shutdown, according to official reports.
In Guwahati, a massive rally was taken out under heavy security arrangements. The rally was attended by 26 student organisations.
The NESO demanded immediate detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshis from the North East, updating of the National Register of Citizens and its completion before the next Lok Sabha polls, sealing of the India-Bangladesh border before the next Lok Sabha polls and no land settlements of migrants who arrived after 1971 in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri and Bongaigaon districts in Assam.
Despite the Meghalaya government’s initiative to provide buses to the government servants, majority of the employees refrained from attending their offices in Shillong during the bandh.
Most of the Central and State Government offices wore a deserted look.
The Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills Sanjay Goyal said 5 to 10 per cent attendance was recorded in the district.
According to him, he would forward a report to the Chief Secretary on the percentage of attendance in all the offices within the jurisdiction of East Khasi Hills.
It may be mentioned that the government will also seek a report from all the district offices on the percentage of attendance.
A few vehicles were seen plying on the normally busy roads of Shillong.
When contacted, SP M Kharkrang informed that no untoward incident was reported from any parts of the city and bandh passed off peacefully.
Similarly, the bandh affected normal life in Ri Bhoi district. No untoward incident was reported from in any part of the district.
The Guwahati-Shillong highway looked deserted with very less vehicles plying throughout the day.
15 persons reported for their duties in the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
In Jaintia Hills, bandh affected normal life. The Jowai-Badarpur Road wore a deserted look. Shops, business establishments in Jowai, Ladrymbai and Khliehriat remained closed. A similar picture was witnessed in Garo Hills. The bandh received spontaneous response in the Garo Hills with even the plain belt region of West and South West Garo Hills districts closing shop during the strike that began from 6am.
No untoward incidents were reported from any of the Garo Hills districts. (With inputs from our correspondents and staff reporter)