Shillong: Commercial activity came to a halt across key parts of Shillong on Monday as local businesses and shopkeepers observed a voluntary shutdown in response to a call by the Shillong Citizen Forum (SCF).
The protest was organised to condemn the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.
The stretch from Khyndailad to Ïewduh witnessed widespread closures, with the Barabazar Merchants and Shopkeepers Association urging its members to join the shutdown as a gesture of solidarity with the victims of the attack.
Supporters described it as a peaceful stand against violence and an expression of collective grief.
On the eve of the shutdown, the SCF also held a candlelight vigil in front of the old Assembly building at Khyndailad.
The vigil, which ran from 5 pm to 7 pm on Sunday, drew citizens from across the city, many of whom gathered to pay tribute to those killed in the Pahalgam incident.
In addition, the Meghalaya government has directed Pakistani nationals residing in the state to leave by the end of April 2025.
The Meghalaya government has also ramped up border security measures along its 443-km stretch with Bangladesh.
The move comes just two days after the incident, with authorities aiming to prevent any potential cross-border threats.
In a separate but related development, the Meghalaya government has issued a directive requiring all Pakistani nationals residing in the state to leave by the end of April 2025.
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Authorities have also intensified security measures along Meghalaya’s 443-kilometre border with Bangladesh.
The action follows just days after the Kashmir incident, with officials citing heightened security concerns and the need for preventive measures against possible cross-border threats.
While the shutdown was widely observed, it drew a mix of responses from various quarters, sparking a debate on the balance between public solidarity and economic impact.
