Police available 24/7 for assistance: SP
SHILLONG: Recurrent night road blockades and bandhs are taking a serious toll on the National Highway connecting Meghalaya with neighbouring countries as well as the other North Eastern states.
Hundreds of trucks carrying essential food commodities for neighbouring states like Tripura and Mizoram pass through the highway but of late the movement of trucks has been affected by the bandhs and agitations of the NGOs in the State.
Ri Bhoi SP CVS Reddy while admitting that the traffic movement has witnessed a downward trend said that the police was willing to provide escort to vehicles wanting to ply on the highway in the face of such agitations.
He said that the district police would provide escort to vehicles from the starting point of the district till the place where the jurisdiction of police ends.
“Very few vehicles are willing to take the escort since people are still afraid,” he said while adding that usually a batch of fifty to sixty vehicles is provided with escorts to facilitate movement.
If the movement of trucks carrying essential commodities is restricted, there is an apprehension in the hike of price of essential commodities in other states as well as in Shillong.
According to Reddy, Ri Bhoi police on Tuesday night provided escort even to the Chief Minister and the Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly who were returning to the State.
“Police is available twenty-four hours for anyone who wants our assistance,” he said
He also pointed out that the patrolling along the national highway has been beefed up with patrolling teams doing rounds along the highway to prevent any untoward incidents.
Apart from trucks, movement of passenger vehicles has also reduced due to the ongoing agitations.
“I have to board my train from Guwahati on Wednesday but since these NGOs can call for a bandh any time next week, I will be forced to leave for Guwahati on Sunday itself,” a resident said.
The affected movement of vehicles on the national highway is also taking its toll on people who visit Guwahati for their business purpose since they have to reach Shillong within a fixed timeline.