Public defiance to bandh on tiol days

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Jan 25: Impact of ‘bandh’ called by rebel groups in Meghalaya is virtually over due to the combined efforts of the judiciary, police, media and the public at large.

For almost two decades, the residents of the State were forced to remain indoors during tiol day celebrations in view of the bandhs called by the proscribed outfits.

The judiciary used it discretion in its landmark ruling in 2015 by restraining the Newspaper publishing houses from publicizing such call related to bandhs.

It is evident is from the numerous views opinioned by the public on their plans on Republic day.

If not a chill out with friends in any available picnic spaces is the reverberated voice of the younger lots, families have other indoor or outdoor programmes planned to celebrate Republic day. But not after a glimpse of the routine parade at Polo Ground, stated Banshem Kharbihthai.

The Police who were at the helm of affairs during the 25 years of bandhs in the state see this as a healthy sign. “The people are not against the ideology of any rebel groups but their angst towards restriction of freedom,” stated a senior police official.

“Look at Garo Hills, the people have virtually stand up to say that they experienced enough of violence,” stated the official even as he added that the numerous public rallies are no more the cosmetic demonstrations of the past. In fact, there were spates of surrender by the members of the armed militant groups in the past four months. The Police attributed to the public stressful experience with those unwarranted bandhs and shutdown in the past two decades.

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