Shillong limps back to normalcy as residents throng banks, markets before Christmas

After days of pitched protests against the amended Citizenship Act, the Meghalaya capital limped back to normalcy on Monday with people seen thronging banks and markets before the Christmas season.

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Curfew was lifted for 13 hours in areas under Sadar and Lumdiengjri police station limits in the hill town and will be reimposed at 7 pm on Monday, East Khasi Hills District Magistrate M W Nongbri said. The situation is returning to normalcy and no untoward incident was reported during the curfew hours and when the curfew was lifted, another senior district official said. Long queues were seen at the banks, who also replenished the ATMs with cash.

"We are open for business transactions as the prevailing situation has improved," a bank official said. Shops and business establishments at major markets in Police Bazaar and Iew Duh areas of the town were seen doing brisk business before the Christmas season.

The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisation (COMSO), an umbrella body of all groups protesting the Act, expressed its happiness over the state government's decision to pass a resolution on December 19 seeking implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state. Members of COMSO, however, are continuing with their peaceful protests against the Act and are slated to hold a sit-in at Malki area on Monday evening, its chairman R Kharjahrin said.

"We will continue to protest against the citizenship law and want 100 per cent exemption of Meghalaya from its purview," he added. The demand for implementing ILP in Meghalaya grew in strength after Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised to extend the law to Manipur.

ILP is in place in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. The Nagaland government recently extended ILP to Dimapur district, bringing the entire state under its purview. Meghalaya had recently witnessed pitched protests against the amended Citizenship Act that seeks to grant Indian citizenship to religious minorities of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan escaping persecution there. 

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