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12-hour curfew relaxation in Shillong

Nitin Gogoi in Guwahati

A 12-hour curfew relaxation has been ordered in the Meghalaya capital of Shillong, from 05:00 hours on Thursday, after a day of panic on Wednesday.

The relaxation will allow hordes of stranded tourists from neighbouring Assam to leave. Hotels and guesthouses in Shillong were full over the weekend since a combination of bandhs [general closure] and holidays had given people in Assam five days off, starting August 12.

The firing on Wednesday and subsequent panic reaction by the administration led to thousands of tourists being held up in Shillong.

A Central Reserve Police Force jawan was killed and another sustained serious injuries on Tuesday night, following an exchange of fire between a CRPF-police team and suspected militants, who had called for a bandh on August 15, boycotting Independence Day celebrations.

The jawan killed was identified as Arun Kumar Singh and the injured jawan was Ram Deodin.

Police personnel arrested a hardcore militant on Wednesday. They, however, refused to disclose his identity.

Fresh encounters were reported from some parts of the city on Wednesday night. However, there was no loss of life.

The state government had imposed a 24-hour curfew in the capital starting from 05:00 hours IST on Wednesday.

State home minister T H Rangad said that the curfew had been imposed on the advice of the state police. He said that it had been necessitated following Tueday night's unprovoked firing by militants.

Rangad said that the curfew was to ensure the safety of the public at large.

A combing operation has been launched at Mawlai, where the militants are believed to be taking shelter. Special operation teams and Central Reserve Police Force personnel have also been deployed in many areas.

The state government has sought three more CRPF companies to fight the militants.

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