27 BJP members detained during bandh

Shillong, Sept 20:  State BJP general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty and twenty-six other party members were detained by police as they were found obstructing public transports and forcing the closer of business establishment in and around Khyndailad (Police Bazaar) during the twelve hour bandh called by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to protest against the UPA government decision to hike price of diesel and also allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail in India.

Normal life in Shillong and adjoining areas came to a standstill Thursday in response to the twelve hours bandh call given by the NDA. In Meghalaya, National Peoples’ Party (NPP), FKJGP, BJP and the CPI supported the bandh call to protest against the diesel price hike and allowing FDI in retail businesses.

Office attendances were thin in most of the government offices. Educational institutions, banks, business houses and even private establishments remained closed. Traffic in and around Shillong city was thin as most of the public and private transports were off the road. Only few local taxis were seen plying on the road.

East Khasi hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goel told www.ohmeghalaya.com over the phone that Chakraborty and other BJP members were detained by the police after they were found obstructing public transports and forcing shops in Khydailad to close. He said, “A group of twenty-seven men led by the BJP general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty were found obstructing public transports, especially the STPS buses, and forcing shops to close their shutter and were picked up by the police.”

Regarding the office attendances, Goel said that sixty percent of office goers attended offices within his district, but there were some offices like transport department where the attendance was nil.

In Ri-Bhoi, business establishment along the national highway remained close as office attendance was almost nil with only ten percent attending the office. Two BJP members were also detained in the district.

However in Jaintia hills deputy commissioner PS Dkhar said about seventy seven percent office goers attended the office but business establishment remained close. He said, “ The main market is close, but there are some small shops which remain open.”

Meantime, the twenty seven BJP members have been released .-By Our Reporter