Our Bureau
SHILLONG/NONGS-TOIN/JOWAI: Heavy rains accompanied by a freezing weather kept people indoors during the dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) on Tuesday.
The 12-hour bandh, which brought life to a standstill in the State except in Garo Hills region, passed off peacefully save a few stray incidents of stone pelting in Nongstoin.
All the State and Central Government offices, financial institutions and educational institutions remained closed, while vehicles were off the roads. The streets in Shillong town wore a deserted look.
The State Government’s stringent warning to its employees did not have any impact as almost all the State Government offices witnessed a thin attendance. The government claimed that the overall attendance in all the State Government offices was 10 percent while it was almost nil in the Central Government offices.
The bandh was called by the HANM in protest against the arrest of its Western Ri-Bhoi Zone president, K Thongni. Thongni was arrested by Assam Police last month for his alleged involvement in the torching of an Assam Police outpost along the Assam-Meghalaya border.
The SP of East Khasi Hills M Kharkrang informed that no untoward incident was reported from any part of the city.
The bandh passed off peacefully in Ri Bhoi district even as the attendance in the Government offices were recorded at 20 per cent.
The bandh, however, evoked a mixed response in East and West Jaintia Hills districts.
A few businesses establishments and educational institutions in Jowai, Ladrymbai, Khliehriat and Amlarem areas remained open during the day.
The district Administration in West Jaintia Hills claimed 76 per cent attendance in the government offices.
All educational institutions in West Khasi Hills remained closed. A negligible attendance was witnessed in the Deputy Commissioner’s office.