Our Bureau
Tura/Shillong, Jan 5: Taxi services across the Garo Hills region were hit by the 48-hour bandh call by various organisations to protest against the increase in punishment in hit-and-run cases in the yet-to-be implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Confusion reigned across the region over the imposition of the 48-hour bandh with many unwilling to take chances of moving through the state of Assam over fear of being targeted for defying the bandh despite normal services continuing within the region.
“I was advised to not take the route through Assam as most of us were unaware of what the consequences could be if we ventured out. Initially, there was information of the bandh being called off but we were not certain that it did till the evening,” said a local taxi owner.
Meanwhile, many commuters canceled their trip to Assam and were also advised to not venture into the neighboring state even with a private vehicle over fears that they could be targeted.
Meanwhile, commercial vehicles stayed off the road in Assam over the 2-day protest though private vehicles continued to ply.
As per reports, there was no imposition of the bandh in Assam though vehicles preferred to stay off the road on the first day of the strike. A better situation is expected today.
Strike affects flow of tourists in city
The ongoing strike by all tourist taxis in Shillong and Assam has affected tourist movement in the state.
President of Federation of Shillong Hotels, Parambir Singh Sehdave said that many cancellations were made by tourists on Thursday and the same trend continued on Friday as well due to the ongoing situation.
Following the decision to call off the strike, Sehdave said that it would take 3-4 days for tourist flow to increase.