SHILLONG: The East Khasi Hills district magistrate has further relaxed curfew in some volatile areas for seven hours from Thursday.
The curfew will be relaxed from 7am to 2pm in areas under Lumdiengjri Police Station that is, Jaiaw, Mawkhar, Umsohsun, Riatsamthiah, Wahingdoh, Mission, Mawprem, Lumdiengjri, Lamavilla, Qualapatty, Wahthapbru, Sunny Hill, Cantonment, Mawlong Hat, including Cantonment Beat House areas (excluding localities beyond Umshyrpi Bridge).
Curfew will be promulgated again from 2pm till further orders.
In Shillong agglomeration, the curfew timing is from 6 pm to 5 am.
The army did not proceed with the flag march scheduled at 10 pm considering the improved law and order.
On Wednesday, the district administration relaxed curfew hours in volatile areas from 7 am to 12 noon. In other areas, it started from 6 pm instead of 4pm the day before. It continued till 5 am.
People thronged Iewduh (Bara Bazar), the traditional market place, as it opened for business for a few hours. Vendors took the opportunity to sell vegetables and other essential commodities at high prices.
The Shillong Times spoke to some vegetable sellers at Iewduh who said they charged the usual prices.
Most of the shops at Iewduh remained closed while sellers/traders of vegetables, fruits, betel nut-betel leaf made good business but had to rush as soon as curfew hours set in.
When the clock struck 12 noon, an announcement was made that curfew had been imposed and vehicles that were proceeding towards Motphran had to turn back.
The otherwise busy Motphran wore a deserted look during the six days of agitation as turmoil engulfed the areas when agitators turned up against the district administration following the assault of three Khasi boys by residents of Sweepers’ Lane (Them Iew Mawlong).
The agitators resisted police by pelting stones. In retaliation, the police shot tear gas shells. Some of the agitators have also been arrested.
Only a few roadside railings at Motphran have survived the agitation.
Commuters stranded
Many people were stranded in Umiam after the curfew was imposed from 6 pm on Wednesday evening.
A woman who was stranded said she went to Guwahati for the examination of her grandchildren and they were hoping to reach Shillong before 6 pm.
“We tried our best and everything in Guwahati got over by 5 pm and later we were stopped here in Umiam,” she said.
She added that children were without food and water and Umiam police did not hear their grievances.
When contacted, Ri Bhoi DC said people were stopped from going towards Shillong in view of the curfew but for emergency cases, exceptions were made.
