NONGSTOIN, April 15: Joining the nationwide celebration to mark 75 years of Independence, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, two cyclists — Santanu Dutta and Manish K Deka — from Guwahati, partook in a ‘Freedom Ride’ from Shillong to Nongstoin on Thursday.
The duo started from Shillong at 6 am.
It took the duo four hours to reach Nongstoin where they were received and felicitated by the West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, T Lyngwa, in the presence of the Superintendent of Police, Herbert G Lyngdoh, and Additional Deputy Commissioner, AVD Shira.
In an interaction with the DC, Santanu Dutta and Manish K Deka expressed joy in participating in the ride and to witness a district with several beautiful landscapes and well-built roads.
They also promised to promote tourism in the region among their peers while requesting the Deputy Commissioner to encourage the youths to take part in cycling which will, in turn, promote sports and become a way to explore places.
It may be mentioned that while Deka is a known face in the mountaineering world in India who has undertaken many international expeditions, Dutta, on the other hand, is not only a Radiologist by profession but also a sports and fitness enthusiast.