Situation improving in Shillong, governor appeals for peace

The situation in restive Shillong showed signs of improvement for the second day today even as Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad asked the people to help maintain peace and not dent the image of the state.

No untoward incident was reported since yesterday from violence affected areas of the state capital, East Khasi Hills district Deputy Commissioner P S Dkhar told PTI.

In a statement, the governor said events of the past one week have caused a lot of concern to peace-loving citizens of the state and appealed to them to support the government in its effort to maintain 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 the people to be wary of rumours as fake news could be deliberately circulated by unscrupulous people.

Dkhar said most shops are open in the two markets - Police Bazaar and Iew Duh (Bara Bazaar).

The curfew in the affected areas has been relaxed from 7 am to 12 noon today, he said.

The timing of the night curfew in the entire state capital has also been changed. Now it is from 6 pm to 5 am in place of 4 pm to 5 am, the deputy commissioner said.

The Army last night conducted another round of flag march in the affected areas and two columns is on standby, defence spokesperson Ratnakar Singh said.

Meanwhile, Minority Commission Member Manjit Rai met senior police and civil officials where he was briefed on the situation today.

Rai said the report will be tabled before the Commission tomorrow.

The Commission member also paid a visit to a gurudwara in the Punjabi Lane and is likely to meet Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma later.

The hill town has been in the grip of violence since May 29 following a fight between Sikh residents in Shillong's Punjabi Lane area, and Khasi drivers of state-run buses.

Over 10 people, including policemen and CRPF personnel, were injured in the clashes.

The BJP-backed Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government has formed a committee, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, to find a permanent solution to the issue of relocation of the sweeper colony, inhabited by Punjabis, where an incident of assault, fanned by fake news on social media, sparked clashes last week.