Shutting down shops by 10pm locals reaction on DC Shillong order

Shillong: The Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills district has recently ordered the closure of all shops and restaurants in Shillong city by 10 pm. A visit to Police Bazaar, also known as Khyndailad, a popular shopping center revealed mixed reactions from the public.

On Wednesday, when Mediapersons visited the market, Delhi Mistan owner Kailash Varma praised the government’s new order. Varma lauded the management’s efforts and revealed that the order does not affect his shop as his establishment closes by 9 pm.
Expressing concern over the safety of tourists in the city, Varma said, “People should avoid playing loud music at night and drink driving. If they want to drink, they should go home. I should drink freely. He also appealed that the order be enforced equally for all shopkeepers and shops.
Police Bazar chief Devendra Singhania explained how the situation on weekdays is not a major concern as compared to weekends. He highlighted issues such as people parking cars on roadsides, playing loud music, and even drinking alcohol inside vehicles, which had become a challenge to control.
“When they are interrogated, they get into arguments and create a law and order situation,” he explained. Singhania supported the DC’s decision given the current situation in the city.

However, there were some who did not approve of the new decree which prohibits the operation of businesses beyond 10 pm.
Madras Cafe owner Arun Karthik expressed that the order will adversely affect his business as the cafe closes after 10 pm. He pointed out that tourists returning to Shillong after sightseeing would find all the restaurants closed, which would not be auspicious. He suggested that the order could possibly be implemented by 11 pm.
Tourist Bhanu Pratap Singh and his wife Priyanka believed that local shops and businesses would be more affected by tourists. “I believe there is a lack of administration in the state to control law and order,” Singh said, adding that he either had early closing hours, such as 8 pm, or bars and liquor shops. Proposed early closure.
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said he had discussed the matter with Home Minister Prestone Tynsong, who decided to convene a high-level meeting regarding the recent order.

“We expect things to change based on the proceedings of the meeting,” Lyngdoh said.
He also expressed concern about public confidence when everything is closed, highlighting that “stray incidents” can happen in any city, even in well-known places like London or Paris.
Regarding DC’s statement about people going home by 10pm, he questioned the definition of ‘normal and abnormal’ when people in metropolitan cities come to eat at midnight. He also expressed concern about the impact this would have on local businesses and tourism.
Citing the increase in the number of arrests related to criminal activities in the state, he said the law and order situation had improved “a lot”.