Meghalaya pressure groups call for non-cooperation, offices remain deserted

 Guwahati, Nov 25: Most of state  government offices in Meghalaya including those in the capital city of Shillong  on Friday wore a deserted look in view of the "non-cooperation day" called by the five pressure groups--KSU, FKJGP, HNYF, RBYF and JSU to protest against the Mukroh shooting incident on November 22.

There was thin attendance of government employees in the Main and Additional Secretariat. Majority of the Directorate offices of the various departments also saw a thin attendance except for senior officers.

The counters of the North Treasury and District Transport Office (DTO) were completely shut. The entry gate of the MBoSE office, Shillong was closed.

It has been reported that members of the pressure groups had gone to a few of the government offices asking them to close down.
There was adequate deployment of police and CRPF personnel in the government offices including in the Secretariat Hills and Lower Lachumiere.
The pressure groups members have also forced closure of the main State Bank of India (SBI) branch at Dhankheti in Shillong today.

Meanwhile, apprehending shortage of petroleum fuels and essential items, Meghalaya government has instructed deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of all concerned districts especially Ri-Bhoi and East Khasi Hills districts to provide adequate escort and security cover to petroleum fuels carrying tankers and PDS items carrying trucks entering the state from Assam in view of the prevailing tense situation in the hill state following November 22 police firing incident at Mukroh village on Meghalaya-Assam boundary in which six persons were killed.

Long queues of vehicles were seen in front of petrol pumps in the state since yesterday as people have resorted to panic buying fuels apprehending imminent shortage.