SHILLONG
Shillong has been experiencing clashes between the Khasi and the Punjabi population leading to curfew and violence across the last couple of days.
The New Leam Staff
Across the last couple of days severe unrest in taking place in Shillong.A clash triggered out between a Khasi man and a Punjabi woman in a Punjabi locality in Shillong.
Sunday, the Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh stated that he would be sending four-member team led by Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Randhawa to Shillong.
A statement issued by the team would make a ground assessment of the issue in the troubled areas and extend support to the Sikh community there. A team of Akali Dal went to Shillong and met the Chief Minster Sangma and Sikh residents of Punjabi Lane. A curfew was issued in the locality and internet connection was suspended.
The curfew has now been lifted. The Congress stated that the clashes were a reaction of the people for the inefficiency of the administration. The Khasi inhabitants have been demanding that illegal migrants like the Punjabis be evicted. The administration has not been able to initiate efficient mechanism to deal with the issue.
The residents of the Punjabi locality say the anger given to the community is part of a perpetual demand from sections of the Khasi society to get them evicted from the area. It is since the 1980s, that the Khasis label the Punjabis ‘illegal settlers’ and demand their eviction from the territory.
The Sikhs allege that they have been living there forever and we will stay there. Several political leaders have spoken of rehabilitating Punjabis to some other location but nothing materialised.
