By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 13: It was a decision taken in haste and it was destined to fail. The East Khasi Hills district administration’s order to close down all shops and eateries in the city after 10 pm, which can be best described as a knee-jerk reaction to a case of drunken rowdyism in Laitumkhrah, lasted just one day with hawkers and street vendors refusing to follow the order.
In the wake of widespread criticism, the state government on Thursday made amends and modified the order allowing all shops to open till 11.30 pm in certain parts of the city.
Shops will now be allowed to operate till 11.30 pm in three areas of Police Bazar — starting from Assembly Hotel towards Wards Lake via Oakland Road; Quinton Road upto Courtyard by Marriott Hotel and Eee Cee Restaurant up to Jail Road petrol pump; besides the whole of Polo Hills and Urkaliar area.
Shops and eateries in other parts of the city will continue to adhere to the 10 pm deadline, a fresh order issued on Thursday said.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting convened by Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home, Prestone Tynsong to review the law-and-order situation in the city, and by extension the state.
The meeting was attended by the deputy commissioner, superintendents of police, the Inspector-General of Police and additional district magistrates.
Making it clear that law and order cannot be said to have deteriorated just because of a few incidents, Tynsong said, “Be it the incident of arson in the police station or the attack on the residence of Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, the law will take its own course. “We will not allow such incidents to recur,” he assured.
Asking citizens not to worry since the police and the administration are on the job to ensure peace and tranquility, Tynsong said the government will ensure round-the-clock policing besides installing proper lighting system.
“Instruction has been given to DC, SPs and IGP to strengthen policing and make sure these places (where shops will open till 11.30 pm) are safe for everyone,” he said.
He assured that the government will ensure that Shillong gradually becomes “a city that never sleeps”.
Admitting to shortage of manpower in the Police Department, Tynsong said the government will augment the strength immediately.
He disclosed that in the first phase, the recruitment process for 1,000 posts in the Police Department has been completed and appointments will be issued soon.
In the second phase, the government will fill up around 1,500 vacancies, he added.