Shillong recovering from violence, rise in tourist footfall

Authorities today briefly lifted the curfew imposed in Shillong and other "vulnerable areas" for the first time as the situation improved, a senior official said, nearly a week after violent clashes between local Khasi people and Sikh community members rocked the areas.

No new report of clash was received today, paving the way for increase in tourist footfall in Shillong, called the "Scotland of the East".

The curfew imposed in 14 "vulnerable areas" was lifted for seven hours from 5 am to 12 noon in view of the improved situation, East Khasi Hills district Deputy Commissioner P S Dkhar said.

They had been continuously under curfew since June 1.

The prohibitory order was reimposed after 12 noon till 7 am tomorrow. In rest of the city, the curfew was clamped back from 6 pm till 5 am tomorrow, Dkhar told PTI.

Shillong had been in the grip of violence since May 29 following a fight between Sikh residents in city's Punjabi Lane area, and Khasi drivers of state-run buses. More than 10 people, including policemen and CRPF personnel, were injured in the clashes that followed the fight.

Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad urged people to maintain peace and not dent the image of the state.

In a statement, he said events of the past week have caused a lot of concern to peace-loving citizens, and urged them to support the government in maintaining peace.

"Disruption of normal life due to violence dents the image of a peaceful state like ours and will have a negative impact on the state's economy, especially during the peak tourist season," he said.

Prasad also urged people to be wary of rumours as "fake news" could be deliberately circulated by unscrupulous people.

Deputy Commissioner Dkhar said most shops opened in Police Bazaar and Iew Duh (Bara Bazaar) and people were visiting them.

With the situation easing out, tourist flow has started to increase in the picturesque capital of Meghalaya, which means 'abode of clouds'.

Assam Tourists Taxi Association started ferrying tourists from Guwahati to Shillong, sources in the association said.

Holidayers were seen in good numbers at the popular