symbolic photo
Shillong’s Punjabi Lane, also known as Them Iew Mawlong, was closed after the 2018 violence. After remaining closed for six years following the controversy over Harijan colony near Evduh, the state government announced that it will start opening the road that passes through the neighborhood to the movement of vehicles starting November 4. The road was closed for safety reasons.
The movement of vehicles will be carried out under strict security measures.
Authorities say its opening is because it can reduce traffic congestion in surrounding areas. Vehicle movement from Mawlonghat to Bimola Junction has officially resumed, the administration said. The district administration has announced that vehicles can now ply on Dem Metor Road, which connects Mavlonghat to Bimola, from 8 am to 4 pm daily under strict security measures.
The decision to resume traffic on this route was made after a recent meeting between district officials and Deputy Chief Minister Preston Tynsong. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtanger assured that adequate security presence, including CRPF, traffic police and state police personnel, has been deployed to ensure security.
Preparation to move 342 families from the colony.
Furthermore, the state government is preparing to take a final decision on the relocation of 342 families from Harijan Colony to Them Iv Mawlong and plans to resolve it before the end of the year. The transfer proposal has been under review since a high-level committee was formed under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Tynsong in June 2018. When riots broke out again in Shillong in 2018 over the migrant issue, life became uncertain for residents of Punjabi Lane, a 200-year-old settlement that protesters wanted to relocate. It is estimated that 4,000 people live in this area.
Most of the people in this colony were immigrants from Punjab.
This colony was to house health and municipal workers, mostly immigrants from Punjab. It became a flashpoint in the 1980s. Prominent Khasi tribals want Punjabis to be displaced from donated tribal lands that passed to the government after independence. There have been intermittent conflicts in recent years.
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