Bandh reduced to 12-hours all over

SHILLONG, DEC 9: The pro Inner Line Permit (ILP) ngos decided to reduce the bandh hours  from 36 to 12-hour throughout the Khasi, Jaintia and Ri Bhoi districts in view of the requests made from different quarters. Earlier the ngos had only reduced the bandh in Jaintia hills.

However late at night it is learnt that the thirteen ngos have decided to reduced the bandh hours to 12 hours from 36 hours in the state. Earlier the Jaintia Students Union (JSU) had said that only in Jaintia hills the bandh hours have been reduced to 12 hours while in Khasi, Jaintia and Ri-Bhoi districts it will be 36 hours.

“We have decided to reduce the bandh called to 12-hour in the East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia hills district which will be effective from 5 AM to 5 PM on Tuesday,” Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) president Rikut N Parien said in a statement on Monday.

However, the office picketing on December 13 will continue even in Jaintia hills district. Earlier the JSU had said that the office picketing will not be operational in Jaintia hills.

Parien informed that the decision was taken after several requests were made from church leaders and traditional institutions.  He said in a statement, “We have decided to respect and consider their requests by reducing the bandh to 12 hour as we want the people to support and cooperate with the movement for immediate implementation of the ILP system.”

Parien also urged the people who are attending any marriage ceremony to tie a balloon on their vehicle while plying on the road during the hours of bandh.- By Our Reporter