Mixed response to HNLC bandh, peaceful

SHILLONG, FEB 16: The 12- hour bandh called by the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Monday evoked mixed response as it passed off peacefully with no untoward incidents.

In Shillong, shops and big business establishment in the major commercial areas like Iewduh and Khyndailad remained closed, small shops in the different localities remained opened as usual. Big markets in other parts of the state also remained closed.

Educational institutions- schools and colleges- were also closed except those that conducted promotional examination of Class XI were opened, officials said.

Vehicular movements were thin as only government vehicles and some private even taxis were seen plying on the road. The state transport buses were also seen plying in different parts of the city.

Official sources informed that the national highways in the state, however, remained affected as there were very less vehicle plying on their roads.

The HNLC had called for a 12-hour shutdown on Monday to protest the “injustice” against Christians in Delhi, lathi charge on truck drivers on NH-40 and delay in making public the report of Mookhep firing last year.

State and central government offices including financial institutions were open.

Ironically, most of the ministers were not to found in their office chambers despite the appealed made by the state government to defy the bandh called by the outfit.

East Khasi hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal said,  “The overall percentage of attendance of office goers in the entire district stand at 75 per cent.” He informed that most of the central offices were open, only few were closed.

Goal said most of the educational institutions were closed except those where class XI examinations were being held remained open.

Goyal also informed that he did not get any report of students facing difficulty in reaching their examination centre and added that the district administration has made sure that government buses ply in the different areas of the city.”

West Khasi hills district deputy commission S Kharlyngdoh informed that offices in his jurisdiction were functioning normally except schools and shops remained closed during the hours of the bandh.

In West Jaintia hills district, deputy commissioner PS Dkhar said that the attendance of employees in the different offices was 82.45 per cent. He informed that the class XI examination in the district went off without any disruption.

According to official report, the office attendance in other districts, South West Khasi Hills stood at 80 per cent, West Khasi Hills – 65 per cent, Ri Bhoi – 45 per cent, and East Jaintia Hills 84 per cent.  – By Our Reporter