Militant group's shutdown hits life in Meghalaya

Normal life came to a standstill in Meghalaya on Wednesday following a 24-hour shutdown called by the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) in protest over the delay in passage of the Village Administration Bill by the Congress-led government.

The HNLC militant group, which organises hit-and-run operations from its hideout in Bangladesh, had extended its support to headmen and other traditional leaders who are demanding the approval of the Village Administration Bill, 2014 and the (Establishment of Elaka and Village, Election, Appointment, Powers, Functions and Jurisdiction of Dolloi, Sirdar and Waheh Shnong) Bill, 2015.

The Village Administration Bill was passed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and the (Establishment of Elaka and Village, Election, Appointment, Powers, Functions and Jurisdiction of Dolloi, Sirdar and Waheh Shnong) Bill, was passed by the Jaintia Hill Autonomous District Council.

The Khasi-Jaintia dominated areas were paralysed during the shutdown. Shops, businesses and educational institutions remained shut while there was little movement of public and private transport.

There was skeleton presence of staff at the state secretariat and central government offices, and attendance in courts was also low.

However, government officials said the overall attendance at the state secretariat was 70 per cent, while in other state government offices in Shillong, the state capital of Meghalaya, the attendance stood at 60 percent.

National Highways (NH) 40 and 44, the lifeline of Mizoram, Tripura and parts of Manipur and southern Assam, were also affected by the shutdown.

"There have been no reports of any untoward incident and the situation is normal," Director General of Police Rajiv Mehta told IANS.