Curfew imposed in Shillong after a night of clashes

Rumours generated via social media about the death of a tribal man led to communal tension in Shillong on Thursday evening, forcing the authorities to clamp curfew in parts of the city.

A verbal duel between a woman, who was saved by a whisker when a bus zoomed past her, and the conductor of the state-run bus allegedly led to a series of clashes in Shillong. An indefinite curfew has been imposed in parts of the city which looks calm at the moment.

An incident of eve-teasing allegedly involving a conductor of one of the buses and a girl of the locality was said to be the trigger of the clash between tribal people and Dalits.

A woman was on her way back home in the city’s Them Aew Mawlong area when her quick thinking saved her from being hit by a bus coming from behind. An argument between her and the conductor of the bus drew the attention of the passersby and locals who reportedly joined in and beat up the conductor. After that everybody went home and the conductor was taken to the hospital for first aid.

However, things turned dramatic when the conductor’s co-workers returned to the spot a few hours later to avenge the beating. One thing led to another and soon there was a full-blown clash between groups armed with rods, daggers and other sharp weapons.

Locals said despite the presence of police, tension prevailed till 2 am on Friday as waves of people tried to force their way to the locality. The mob, comprising residents and state transport staff, kept growing, courtesy social media. The authorities of East Khasi Hills district, under which Shillong falls, later imposed curfew in 14 localities around Sweeper’s Lane. These include Iewduh or Bara Bazaar, the commercial hub of the city.

Fearing more clashes, Section 144 was imposed in certain pockets of Shillong under East Khasi hill district, police said.