Shillong shuts down in solidarity with Pahalgam terror attack victims

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: A heavy, grieving silence hung over Shillong on Monday, as the hill city witnessed the shutdown of business establishments in a poignant expression of solidarity with the victims of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir.

The vibrant pulse of its markets was replaced by an aching stillness – the familiar calls of hawkers, the chatter of busy shoppers, and the clatter of commerce all fell away, leaving the streets eerily deserted.

Responding to the call of the Shillong Citizen Forum (SCF), merchants, traders, hawkers, and business owners voluntarily closed their establishments across Greater Shillong. The shutdown, though voluntary, reflected a collective outpouring of grief and condemnation against the act of violence that shook the nation.

At Police Bazar, the usually bustling commercial hub, even the smallest vendors stood in quiet solidarity. “Today, business takes a backseat; standing with the nation is more important,” said a vegetable seller, hastily covering his cart with a tarpaulin.

In areas like Jhalupara, Garikhana, Laban and others, where cafes and boutiques often hum with youthful chatter, shutters remained firmly pulled down.

“This is our way of expressing anger and sorrow,” said a café owner, who stood quietly outside his locked premises. The atmosphere in Iewduh, the heart of the city’s trading activity, was no different. “We decided together that we would shut our shops to show we do not tolerate violence,” said a garment trader as he helped others lower their shutters.

Even roadside vendors joined in the silent protest. “No one told us to close. We felt it ourselves – it is a small gesture, but it comes from the heart,” remarked a fruit seller, arranging unsold produce back into crates. The Shillong Citizen Forum, which had urged for the shutdown, expressed gratitude towards the business community for responding in unison.

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