Meghalaya Government Urges Calm, Warns Against Panic Buying Amid Tensions

SHILLONG: As tensions between India and Pakistan grew, the Meghalaya government on Wednesday issued a public advisory asking people not to panic buy essential items.

The appeal was made amid growing concerns following news of Indian air strikes on terror camps along the border and fear of possible reprisals by Pakistan.

To assuage public fears, state authorities assured that Meghalaya has enough food stock and no immediate food security threat. Despite this assurance, Shillong and the rest of the state saw heightened consumer demand in markets as residents scrambled to buy groceries in bulk. Evening stores were well half-empty by then, following a trend observed through previous national crises.

In an address to the media, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Comingone Ymbon called on the people to remain calm and not succumb to fear. "I appeal to all the citizens of the state not to panic," Ymbon stated. "We are keeping a very close watch, and all the districts have enough stocks, including buffer stocks.

Ymbon stressed that the government is ready to react to any development and will reassess the situation if tensions continue to escalate. "In case of further escalation, we are ready to take necessary measures to ensure the steady availability of essential items," he added.

The minister also warned traders and shopkeepers in strong words not to make use of the situation for profit. "I would like to urge all the shopkeepers not to exploit the situation," Ymbon said, adding that the department's price vigilance committee is monitoring prices of commodities in real-time using a dedicated dashboard.

Food and Civil Supplies Department officials stated that buffer stocks have been kept strategically throughout the districts. There are surveillance teams on watch to check for any hoarding or black-marketing, and an effort is being made to stabilize prices in the market.

Reiterating the government's readiness, Ymbon assured the people that there is nothing to worry about. "Meghalaya is well-prepared. There is no shortage, and we will continue to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential goods to every corner of the state," he said.

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