A ‘tail’ of chaos
The streets of Shillong are gradually turning into utter canine anarchy. We are talking about the stray dogs of Shillong—those scruffy, four-legged freeloaders—who have taken over the city as their personal fiefdom, turning quiet lanes into their playground and battleground, forcing residents to take evasive actions.
These strays are weaving chaos into the city’s daily rhythm with a wag of their tails and a glint in their eyes.
For a greater part of the day, these strays escape into unknown holes, basements and corners but as soon as the evening gives way to night, these creatures emerge in groups not only to attack you but also take away your dignity, your confidence, and maybe a small chunk of your skin.
Shillong’s strays aren’t just average dogs. No Sir. They’re tactical geniuses akin to a canine mafia.
At night, when Shillong’s streets fall silent, the strays unleash their true superpower: their midnight opera disturbing your sleep as if punishing you for your sins.
Ask any two-wheeler rider and they will narrate tales about how a pack of strays have given them a chase, testing their bravery and their driving skill all at once.
Authorities have made attempts to curb the canine chaos. Sterilisation drives and proposals for dog shelters have been floated. But the strays remain, undeterred, and thriving.
Maybe it’s the magic of Shillong, where the spirit is free or maybe these dogs are just too resilient, the real survivors.
Risky roadside parking
A young man has lost his bike—stolen from right outside his home. It’s been three days since the incident, and there’s little he can do but wait.
But before we chalk this up to just another bike theft, it’s worth understanding how it happened.
The bike was parked overnight along the roadside near Mawprem Presbyterian Church—a spot he had used many times before without issue. But this time was different. The next morning, when he stepped out, the bike was gone. Just like that. He instantly knew what had happened but clung to the faint hope that he might somehow be reunited with his beloved machine. After exhausting every possibility, he came to accept the painful truth that the bike wasn’t coming back anytime soon. All he could do now was leave it in the hands of the police.
This incident opens up a much-needed conversation about the risks of roadside parking—particularly in densely packed localities like Mawprem. With limited space, it’s common for residents to leave their two-wheelers and even four-wheelers parked on the streets. But thefts like this serve as a harsh reminder of the need for secure, accessible parking solutions.
Ironically, the victim did have a safe parking option. But on that fateful night, he opted for the roadside—a choice made out of convenience, and one he had gotten away with many times before.
Unfortunately, the issue isn’t so simple. In Shillong, parking spaces are as scarce as sunshine on a monsoon afternoon—even for something as modest as a scooty.