SHILLONG: Commotion hit commuters traversing through the 58 GTC gate at Happy Valley on Wednesday with the Army and local residents of Mawshubuit asserting their claims on the road leading to the village.
Local residents alleged that the 58 GTC ‘Dronacharya Gate’ which is the only way leading in and out of Mawshubuit village was closed by the Army following which they confronted the personnel manning the gate.
As per reports, the Army authorities directed the public to follow new set of procedures while passing in and out of the gate.
Following the incident vehicular movement came to a standstill as people gathered on both sides of the gate and blocked it.
Meanwhile, police and local MDC Pyniaid Singh Syiem rushed to the spot to assess the situation.
On the other hand, Defence PRO Amit Mahajan justified the new rules saying that security of all Defence establishments has been enhanced recently across the country. Consequently the security of the 58 GTC Happy Valley campus has also been beefed up due to ongoing security situation in the country.
He said that a meeting was organised earlier with the headman of Mawshubuit Village – located adjacent to 58 GTC and has an entry through 58 GTC – to sensitize him of the situation.
He was requested to extend co-operation to ensure a smooth security situation and so as to facilitate easy entry and exit of residents of Mawshubuit village with an assurance that right of way to the locals would not be stopped.
The GTC also asked the headmen to furnish a list of village personnel and vehicles.
Mahajan further informed that on Wednesday, during routine checking of vehicles (not belonging to the village), the local residents put up a blockade outside the Dronacharya Gate of 58 GTC thereby restricting any movement and the same was intimated to the civil administration.
ADM Shillong and DSP Traffic, City promptly responded and immediately came to 58 GTC, and attended a meeting held at the office of the Commandant, 58 GTC, to resolve the imbroglio.
The civil administration later dispersed the agitators and got the blockade removed.
