SHILLONG: After a gap of nearly three years, the city once again witnessed protests on Tuesday.
The dawn-to-dusk protest was called by the North East Students Organisaton in the entire North East region and it evoked huge response in Shillong as it threw normal life out of gear.
However, when reporters met a senior police officer in the afternoon, he said there was no major law and order problem so far.
“Except there were incidents in Shangbangla and Umsning bypass in Ri Bhoi, Dakopgre in West Garo Hills, Mawlai Nonglum in East Khasi Hills. Except in Rajabala and Hallydaganj, the shops in Garo Hills remain closed and there was no vehicular movement,” he said.
An official source said the protest was by and large peaceful and the government through the Police Department made a strong security arrangement.
It was in 2015 when the High Court of Meghalaya had restrained the media from publicising statements of organisations calling bandhs, strike, hartals and road blockades.
The court at that time had even directed that
the state government would authorise the local administration to take the assistance of paramilitary forces for holding flag march to allay fears.
It had also asked the state government and the CEO in charge, Municipal Corporation, to issue notices to all shops and business establishments and even taxi owners as to why their licences would not be cancelled for staying away from lawful avocation and also for keeping their establishments closed.
However, during the protest on Tuesday, it was seen that all the commercial establishments were closed and even public transport was off the road.
It was a holiday mood at Bara Bazar and Police Bazar, the two economic points of the city, and youngsters were seen playing cricket.
This time, pamphlets were distributed to different shops about the protest and people were asked to cooperate besides saying no to the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016.
