Shillong, December 23: The twelve hours HNLC bandh on Monday did not evoke much response from the public as most of the shopping establishment were open especially in Khyndailad ( Police Bazaar), Laitumkhrah and other shopping centers in Shillong. However government offices remained to be affected as it saw thin attendance. Vehicles, both private and local taxis, were also seen plying on the roads, though it was little thinner than the usual.
In Khyndailad the shops open late but by afternoon most of the shops were open. In Iewduh, however, most of the shops were closed with few exceptions. People came out in droves to do their last minute Christmas shopping irrespective of the HNLC bandh.
The Shillong branch of the Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank Limited (MCAB) was fully functional as one of the bank officials said that the bank decided to open upto 3 pm because of the public demand. The Shillong branch of the State Bank of India was also open till 12 noon but later it was closed.
However the most affected by the HNLC bandh call were the government offices with the attendance quite low in most of the districts.
The attendance in the offices in East Khasi hills district was as low as 12 percent, West Khasi hills 20 percent, West Jaintia hills district recorded a better attendance of 85 percent, East Jaintia hills 40 percent, South West Khasi hills 30 percent and Ri Bhoi district 40 percent.
A high ranking government official said that another reasons for the low attendance of government employees were because most of the staff had taken casual leave for Christmas preparation.
East Khasi hills SP M Kharkhrang informed that no incident was reported from any parts of the district.
The HNLC had called the 12 hours bandh demanding unconditional release of ‘all the ILP activists who had been arrested by the police.- By Our Reporter
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