Public buses stay off roads
TURA: True to the resolution taken during the public meeting on Wednesday not to let the indefinite bandh called by the GNLA to continue, some shops in Ampati opened up for business on Thursday morning giving much need respite to the people of the region.
While many of the shops continued to down their shutters in fear of retaliation by the GNLA, people thronged to the few that were opened to purchase basic day to day necessities for their households.
All offices and schools in the district also functioned as normal and went about their businesses; however, traffic on the roads could barely be seen with public transport buses staying off the roads.
The district administration also played a crucial role in the positive development as it provided security encouraging the shopkeepers to keep their shops open.
When contacted South West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police (SP), R. Muthu, informed that there were no untoward incidents reported from any part of the district.
“We provided security in different areas and so far the situation is normal. Around 20-30 per cent of shops opened up for the public today which is a good sign,” he said.
Meanwhile, it is worth mentioning that the GNLA had called a one-day bandh all across Garo Hills on Monday in protest against the killing of the son of the Nokma of Oragitok on March 3.
However, it had extended the bandh indefinitely at Ampati, the home constituency of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, resolving not to lift the bandh until its demand for suspension of all the guilty police officials were met.