By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 7: While landslide-hit roads in East Khasi Hills remain strictly off-limits for ordinary commuters under safety orders, a flourishing “shadow economy” of cattle smugglers is reportedly operating with impunity through restricted stretches, sparking allegations of administrative complicity.
The dual-betrayal of public trust surfaced after the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), South East Central Circle, Pynursla, released video evidence of trucks and a Super Carry vehicle transporting cattle through the Laitlyngkot-Lyngkyrdem stretch—a route currently under a stringent “no-entry” mandate.
The footage, captured during hours when the road is officially sealed to all traffic, has sparked public outcry. Local residents expressed outrage that while common citizens from Pynursla and surrounding areas are forced to comply with safety restrictions, heavy cattle-laden trucks move freely under the cover of darkness.
According to the KSU, the vehicles were intercepted near the old office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) in Pynursla after traveling from the Laitlyngkot side toward the international border. Among the vehicles identified were a truck bearing registration number ML05 G 7868 and a Super Carry with registration number ML05 U 7669.
The movement directly violates a standing order from the Pynursla Civil Sub-Division, which came into effect on May 25. Under the directive, the road remains fully closed from Thursday to Sunday to facilitate construction and mitigate risks from recurring landslides. On other days, vehicular movement is prohibited between 11 am and 3 pm, with night-time restrictions also in place.
“The administration cites safety and the risk of fatalities to stop the general public, yet the gates seem to open for smugglers,” a local resident noted.
The KSU has questioned how these vehicles managed to bypass multiple checkpoints to reach Pynursla, suggesting a significant breakdown in enforcement or deliberate negligence by personnel on the ground. The union has demanded a high-level investigation into the ownership of the vehicles and the failure of the district administration to secure the restricted zone.
The Laitlyngkot-Lyngkyrdem stretch has been the site of several recent accidents and fatalities, prompting the current closure. The revelation that heavy trucks are plying the unstable road at night further compounds the safety risks for the region.
